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"This city needs help. It needs it now. Not tomorrow, not next week, not when the day comes that the corruption Wilson Fisk left in his wake is flushed out for good and the police force is finally back on its feet. We need it now, because this city has been sick. And the cops, they can't fix it alone. They need – we all need – men and women willing to take the fight themselves. The kind of people who risk their lives so we can all walk safe at night in our own neighborhoods."

Matthew Michael "Matt" Murdock is a man who was blinded as a young boy by a radioactive substance that fell from a crashed vehicle, and even though he lost his sight, his other four senses were heightened to a superhuman level. After his father was murdered by mobsters, Murdock dedicated his life to fight injustice in New York City as a lawyer by day with his law firm Nelson and Murdock, and by night as a vigilante known as Daredevil. His actions as a crime fighter put Murdock into conflict with a crime lord named Wilson Fisk. Murdock used his skills to expose Fisk's criminal activities and have him taken to prison.

Daredevil's actions in New York City and his strict moral code soon put him into conflict with the Punisher, a vigilante who believed that death is the only punishment for crime. Daredevil was thrown into more turmoil by the return of his old lover Elektra and his former mentor Stick, who attempted to recruit him into their war with the Hand. Murdock eventually managed to find a middle ground with the Punisher while also defeating the Hand's member Nobu Yoshioka, although losing Elektra in the process and watching Nelson and Murdock fall apart as Foggy Nelson still struggled to cope with Murdock's double life.

Murdock then retired from his vigilante activities and attempted to live a normal life as pro-bono lawyer. However, with the Hand resurrecting Elektra and threatening the city again, Murdock joined fellow vigilantes, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones to destroy the Hand. After staying behind while the Hand's headquarters collapsed, he woke up under the care of nuns.

Contents

Biography

Early Life

Raised by Jack Murdock

Matt Murdock was born in the 1980s and lived with his father, a washed-up boxer named Jack Murdock. Jack consistently urged his young son to study hard and make something of himself, so Matt would not end up like him. When Jack returned from boxing matches, Matt would stitch his injuries. During one of these sessions, Jack allowed Matthew to have a drink of scotch, to keep a steady hand.[2] Matthew stayed awake at night listening to sirens, trying to know what they were, creating stories for them.[3]

Blinded

When he was nine years old, Murdock saved an elderly man from being hit by a RAND Oil & Chemicals truck, causing an accident. Hazardous chemicals from the flipped truck splashed on his face and as they were came in contact with his eyes, Murdock was blinded. The last sight he had was of his father trying to comfort him. He screamed in pain and fear when he realized he would never see again.

He woke up in the hospital where he found he could hear every sound in the nearby area, which caused him pain. His father tried desperately to comfort him. He let his son touch his face so he could recognize that it was him, which seemed to calm him down. [4]

Murdock touches his father's face

Over the next few months, Murdock learned to read Braille and began to control his heightened senses, although he kept them a secret from everyone, even his father. His father continued to work as a boxer despite losing almost all his fights. One day he returned home while Murdock was reading in Braille with severe bruises on his face. He let Matt touch his face and made him promise not to be a boxer like him. One day, while Matt was reading in Fogwell's Gym, he overheard his father being offered money to lose his upcoming fight with Carl Creel.

Murdock finds his murdered father

Matt listened to his father's fight with Carl Creel on the television and cheered when his father overcame the odds and won the match. He waited at home for his father's return but became worried when he did not arrive. Murdock ran to Fogwell's Gym and was stopped by a police officer. Murdock managed to push his way past the officer and found his father lying on the street, having been murdered by local mobsters. Murdock fell to his knees and begged his father to wake up before crying over his father's lifeless body.[2]

When his mother failed to take care of him after his father's death, Murdock was moved to Saint Agnes Orphanage. While there he continued to suffer with his enhanced senses. While still at the orphanage, Murdock was visited by an old blind man named Stick. Stick knew that Murdock's other senses had been heightened and took him outside for ice cream. While they sat together, Stick asked Murdock what he could understand about nearby people just from listening to them. Stick promised to train Murdock to control and master his "gift". Murdock kept the wrapper from his ice cream, planning on giving it to Stick as a present.

Stick began a harsh training regime with Murdock, often pushing an emotional response from him to teach him to control his anger. Over the next few months and years, Murdock became a powerful fighter with almost complete control of his blindness. During one of their training sessions, Murdock gave Stick the wrapper from his ice cream, having made it into a bracelet. Stick crushed it in his hand and told him he could no longer train him. Stick left and Murdock would not see him again for many years.[5]

Law School

Meeting Foggy Nelson

"Most people dance around me like I'm made of glass, I hate that.""Yeah you're just a guy right? A really, really good looking guy. I mean girls must love that, the whole wounded handsome duck thing, am I right?""Yeah, it's been known to happen."

As a young adult, Murdock gained a place at Columbia University Law School. He arrived in his room and introduced himself to his new roommate, Foggy Nelson. Nelson had heard of Murdock, as he remembered what had happened to him as a child. Murdock and Nelson immediately formed a strong friendship and Nelson often joked about his blindness while Murdock would tease Nelson about many of his poor life choices, such as his decision to take a course in Punjabi simply to get close to a girl.

Escapades with Elektra

"I think the games just beginning, because despite your tequilas and charm school manners, despite being richer than god and having the whole world at your fingertips, you're just bored.""Really?""Bored enough to spend your time studying a stranger's shoes."

Murdock and Foggy Nelson decided to crash a debutante's ball, through the kitchen, where they were welcomed by the disgruntled waiters. Later, Murdock decided to check out the party, where he sensed a very attractive woman. Before he could meet her, he was approached by one of the bodyguards, who discovered that he was a crasher. However, before he could kick Murdock out, the woman, Elektra Natchios, declared that he was with her.

During their conversation, Elektra assumed Murdock to be weak and foolish, by judging him by his wing-tipped shoes, whereas Murdock countered her assumptions by detecting that she was a bored, rich girl who wanted excitement, all by perceiving why she stopped the bodyguard from kicking him out. Impressed that Murdock was able to deduce all of this, Elektra invited him to spend more time with her, noting he was not as stupid as she had intially assumed he would be. Stepping outside the building, she then stole an expensive car before she and Murdock left the party.

About a week later, Elektra and Murdock broke into Fogwell's Gym, where Murdock complained that they would likely get arrested and he'd have to pay for the damages, much to Natchios' amusement as she promised to pay the fines. As Elektra began asking questions about his past, Murdock explained, without going into detail, that he was not born blind and that his father was a boxer who had died many years earlier at the hands of Roscoe Sweeney, noting that although he did not know if Sweeney himself killed his father he did know that Sweeney had at least given the order to kill him.

As Murdock continued to discuss his one time attempt to find and confront Sweeney, Elektra jokingly fought him to figure out that Murdock was not exactly blind. Murdock admitted that his blindness was a little more complicated that it first seemed and they had first a small fight, in which they proved themselves equally matched. As the fight continued the sexual tension between them grew until they could not help themselves and pulled off each other's clothes and made passionate love in the ring, with Murdock gently wrapping his hand around Elektra's throat much to her delight.[6]

As they strengthened their relationship, Elektra Natchios led Murdock to a mansion that she claimed belonged to an associate of her father. Once they arrived Elektra joked that she should let Murdock drive despite his blindness. As Elektra explained her father's associate was overseas, Murdock picked her up before realizing she did not actually have the keys and therefore they had to break the window in order to get inside, much to their amusement as Murdock carried her inside.

Once inside, Murdock lay down on the kitchen counter while Elektra cut cheese on his chest and discussed their future once they were married and had houses across the country. Murdock then asked Elektra if she really enjoyed the life style of being a rich woman, to which she explained that while it was fantastic, she would happily trade it all in for a lifetime with just him and smelling his sex during sex, demonstrating this by smashing the expensive glasses which contained expensive champagne that they had poured for themselves, claiming that she did not care about this damage at all.

However, they were interrupted when Murdock heard the sound of a car pulling up outside which Elektra claimed was the owner of the house and promised to speak to him herself so he would not be mad about them breaking in. But when Murdock went to investigation he discovered the entire trip to the house had been a setup by Elektra to make Murdock confront Roscoe Sweeney, the man responsible for his father's murder years earlier and the owner of this house, who was now pinned under Elektra's heel much to Murdock's confusion and horror as this surprise took him completely off-guard.

Elektra explained that she had finally tracked down Sweeney within Monte Carlo where he had been living under several different aliases. Under the advice of Elektra, Murdock revealed his own identity to Sweeney and proceeded to beat him to a bloody pulp in revenge for his father's murder, but he then refused Elektra's proposal to kill Sweeney by cutting his throat. Elektra expressed her own sudden disappointment in Murdock and, while Murdock called the police to report Sweeney as a wanted felon, Elektra then vanished, leaving Murdock, and not seeing him again for ten years.[6]

Avocados at Law

After a beer run, Murdock and Foggy Nelson swore to work together for many more years once they had finally graduated from Columbia University. Nelson asked about the Greek girl named Elektra, but Murdock declared that their relationship ended because "it did not work out". Nelson and Murdock then joked about their future as lawyers, with Nelson mistakenly saying they'd be "avocados" rather than saying the correct Spanish word leading Murdock to tease him, using the same word.

When Murdock revealed to Nelson that he had his first alcoholic drink when he was eleven, because he had to stitch his dad up after a fight, Nelson comforted him, saying that if he could see him now, his father would be proud of the man he had become while Nelson noted his whole family were coming to his graduation. They then continued to talk about their future as Murdock noted that they should call their future law firm Nelson and Murdock as it sounded better that way, joking that while he was blind his hearing was still excellent before they then got up to continue their night of drinking together and discussing a future of working together.[3]

Landman and Zack

"Is this what you want? To be a part of that? Protecting corporations from people who need help?""It doesn't have to be like that, we get a toll hold, make partner...""And then in ten, fifteen years we what? Change the system from the inside? On our way to work in our Bentleys?"

Both Murdock and Foggy Nelson were able to work as interns at Landman and Zack, a successful and powerful law firm, during which time they found themselves being forced to defend many large and highly profitable corporations, such as Roxxon Oil Corporation, against innocent people whose lives were being destroyed under the orders of Parish Landman who ran the company, something which disgusted Murdock personally.

Eventually the pair were both offered permanent jobs inside the firm, which Nelson showed great enthusiasm about, but believing that working for such a soulless company was not the right direction for them to go in, Murdock managed to convince the skeptical Nelson not to take the job offer and instead start up their own law firm, Nelson and Murdock where they could really help innocent people and make a difference to New York City. Although he was highly unsure, Nelson eventually agreed and quit Landman and Zack with Murdock in order to pursue their dream of working together at their own firm.[3]

No Sleep for the Devil

Murdock as a vigilante for the first time

"He spent the next month in a hospital, eating through a straw. And I never slept better."

The night after he and Foggy Nelson quit Landman and Zack, Murdock would have trouble sleeping because he kept hearing his neighbor's daughter crying at night, as her father was abusing her while the neighbor's wife was asleep. Murdock contacted child services to have him arrested. However, the man was able to get away with the crime, being smart enough not to leave a mark. Seeing that the man would not face justice, Murdock donned an eyeless mask and hoodie and ambushed him at a train yard where he worked. Murdock beat him up severely and threatened that if the man ever touched his daughter again, he would know about it. Murdock then left him bloody and unconscious.

Murdock later joined Nelson for a drink at Josie's Bar where Nelson expressed his concern as Murdock had claimed to have tripped causing his cut on the lip. Nelson meanwhile invited Murdock to feel the drawing he had done of Nelson and Murdock's sign which would go outside of their Law Office in the future. Although Nelson made it clear that he was highly nervous about what their future held, he claimed that because he trusted in Murdock's judgement, he was with him for whatever came next and believed that they make Nelson and Murdock a success by working together.[3]

The Masked Vigilante

Saving the Kidnapped Girls

"Perhaps this would be easier if you told me what you've done.""I'm not seeking penance for what I've done, Father. I'm asking forgiveness, for what I'm about to do.""That's not how this works. What exactly are you going to do?"

Years later, Murdock chose to take his vigilante career to the next level in order to protect the people of New York City. He bought a black outfit online, including a new black eyeless mask, which covered the top half of his face, and wore it when fighting crime. Later, Murdock went to confession, telling stories about growing up with his father before claiming he was not there to seek forgiveness for what he had done, but was asking forgiveness for what he was about to do. He would not tell the priest his intentions.[3]

Murdock goes out as the Masked Man

The same night, Murdock tracked Turk Barrett who was now leading a group of Russian Mafia gangsters who were engaged in both kidnapping and sex trafficking under the orders of Vladimir and Anatoly Ranskahov. They planned on transporting a group of young women into a shipping container and threatening to torture them if they resisted in any way. Seeing this terrible act, Murdock snuck up behind Barrett's men and attacked, knocking down many of the guards and avoiding Barrett as he attempted to shoot him, having heard the gun clicking before it was fired, before subduing him by throwing a steel beam at his head which knocked Barrett to the ground and knocked him out.

With all the gangsters now defeated, including one who was just sitting and watching the fight who Murdock threw a steel beam at and knocked into the river, Murdock then focused his efforts on the hostages. He freed the women and ordered them to head towards New York City in the light and flag down the first police officer they found, banging on the container door to make them leave faster. As the women ran to freedom, Murdock dodged out of the way of Barrett's gunshot before beating him senseless and leaving him to be found and arrested by the police when they arrived.

The very next morning, Murdock was awoken in the early hours by a phonecall from Foggy Nelson who ordered him to get out of bed so they could view the new offices ready to finally open their own law practice Nelson and Murdock, while teasing him about Murdock having possibly spent the night with a woman. Before they went Nelson joked that he was going to bribe the New York City Police Department Officer Brett Mahoney, much to Murdock's frustration despite Nelson claiming that he was only joking in case the NSA were listening into their conversation.

Murdock takes a tour of his new office

The pair teased real estate agent Susan Harris about which one of them would get the room with a view, with Nelson laughing when Harris awkwardly curtsied which he then had to explain. Harris told Murdock that the building had been barely damaged at all during the devastating Battle of New York involving the Avengers which was why it was on the market for such a low price. Murdock made her an offer on the office which was soon accepted and they both agreed to move in, despite Nelson's protests as he felt they were not making enough profit as a law firm to even consider buying office spaces like these, although Murdock insisted it was the right move.[4]

Shortly after moving into their new offices, Foggy Nelson received a call from Brett Mahoney who informed him that Karen Page had been found in her apartment having seemingly murdered a workmate with a knife. Nelson and Murdock met Page and offered to represent her; when she asked how long the pair had been practicing law, Murdock told her it had been seven hours. Murdock listened to her heartbeat while she told them what had occurred; knowing that her heartbeat was not changing, Murdock knew she was telling the truth.

Murdock convinced Nelson that they should take on her case but quickly told Nelson that he believed that Page was innocent of her crime which Nelson was highly skeptical of. Murdock however noted that it was strange that the police were not taking her straight to trial as the evidence seemed so obvious, therefore he felt that there was something wrong with this case. Nelson proceeded to tease Murdock about his history with beautiful and dangerous women, however Nelson agreed to back Murdock's theory and they began work on finding who had actually committed the violent murder.

Later that night, they learned that Page was almost assassinated in her prison cell by office Clyde Farnum, so they managed to have her freed. Murdock and Nelson personally confronted the Detectives Christian Blake and Carl Hoffman to ensure that Page was freed from their custody, much to their annoyance. Blake agreed to free Page but made a point to threaten Murdock, noting that he did not care that he was blind as if he used the same tone with him again he would be willing to beat him senseless. Was Blake and Hoffman were gone Murdock noted that this case made no logical sense.

Back in their own offices, Nelson stole some tea without any milk to make Page feel comfortable as he and Murdock began to question her about who would try to kill her and why; she eventually revealed that she had discovered an illegal money laundering scheme inside Union Allied Construction who she had worked for and had been discovered by her boss McClintock. As it was clear that she should not stay in her own apartment, Murdock allowed her to stay at his apartment in order to keep her safe as she was clearly terrified for her own safety and the safety of anyone close to her.

Once there, Murdock explained that he would be sleeping on the couch as a large sign outside his window caused the living room to be constantly filled with light, so Page would only get a good night's sleep in his bed. Murdock then gave her new clothes and Page briefly asked him if he had always been blind and he explained his story before Murdock asked her more questions about what had happened to her, when he asked if she still had the incriminating files she had discovered, she lied and told him she did not. However, he could hear her heart racing and secretly knew she was lying.[4]

During the rainy night, Karen Page sneaked out of Matt Murdock's Apartment, unaware that Murdock was still awake and had followed her to her home where she was collecting the hard-drive she had stolen from Union Allied Construction. He discovered her moments before she was attacked by an assassin named Rance who slammed her head against a wall and prepared to cut her throat. Murdock engaged the assassin in a fight, throwing himself and his enemy out the window.

Although Rance proved to be a highly dangerous enemy, using his knife to attempt to cut Murdock's flesh and kill him, Murdock was able to use his heightened senses to predict when the attacks were coming and fight back against Rance. Murdock eventually used his strength and determination to defeat the assassin, wrapping a chain around his neck and knocking him out with a final kick in front of the horrified Page. Murdock first promised to take the hard-drive to the New York City Police Department but Page told him that this would not work as the police were clearly far too corrupt.

Believing that Page was correct, Murdock took the assassin to the offices of the New York Bulletin along with the hard-drive in order to expose Union Allied Construction's corruption to all of New York City in one go. This caused Page to be set free and all charges against her to be droppped, for which she thanked Nelson and Murdock by cooking them a meal that was her mother's secret recipe. Both Nelson and Murdock then happily agreed to hire Page to work as a secretary for their new law firm as she promised she would work for free, to begin with at least which please them all greatly.[4]

Meeting Claire Temple

Murdock awakes inside of a dumpster

"I tracked the Russians to a warehouse not far from here. Thought I was being smart, how fast I found them. Turns out, I wasn't.""They were waiting for you.""And I walked right into it."

Having trained at Fogwell's Gym for a while, Murdock put on his suit and stood on his rooftop, where he heard the cries of a kidnapped boy.[4] However Murdock was surprised by an ambush arranged by the brothers Anatoly and Vladimir Ranskahov, who had tricked Murdock into coming into a building where they attacked him. Despite putting up his best fight while escaping, Murdock still came out with several knife wounds and ended up falling unconscious into a dumpster, unable to move from his injuries sustained in their fight.

Murdock attempts to leave but quickly fails

Murdock remained hidden inside a dumpster, bleeding out from his wounds, until he was found by Santino, who called on his neighbour Claire Temple for help. Temple took him upstairs into her apartment and treated his injuries. Being trained as a nurse at Metro-General Hospital, Temple quickly established all of Murdock's knife wounds and treated while, while she quickly discovered that he was blind by shining a light in his eye. Murdock woke and tried to leave, claiming the Ranskahovs would kill everyone to get to him, but Temple still insisted that he had to stay as his wounds were too severe.

Before he could leave however, Murdock collapsed on the floor and lost consciousness, recalling memories of his own father as he slept. Eventually Murdock awoke on the sofa to find Temple watching over him, who introduced herself as the lucky girl who had pulled him out of the garbage. While Murdock was horrified that Temple had seen his face, she questioned how a blind man had now ended up in this condition. Noting that most people would have called the New York City Police Department upon finding him, Murdock questioned why Temple had helped him which she did not answer.

Murdock awakes while unable to breath

As Murdock refused to give her his name, Temple called him Mike before advising that he got some sleep to try and recover from his wounds. While dreaming of the night he had been blinded, Murdock suddenly awoke to find himself unable to breath. Desperately calling on Temple to help him, she discovered he had air in his chest and solved the situation, saving Murdock's own life. Temple demanded a reason to keep Murdock there, so he explained how Veles Taxi had kidnapped a boy whom he had just failed to save, admitting he had walked into the Ranskahov's trap, calling himself stupid.

After a while, Murdock smelled a Russian mobster wearing strong aftershave and cologne coming up the stairs looking for him. While Murdock got a kitchen knife, Temple told him to not attack the man coming and let her talk to him, as he was not strong enough to even stand right let alone fight. Temple answered the door while Murdock hid against the wall, and the man claimed to be an New York City Police Department officer looking for the suspect of a robbery while he claimed a masked man was responsible for; Temple however told the man that she had not seen anything like that.

The mobster left but Murdock heard him on the phone and knew that he had not believed her and was currently informing the Ranskahovs of where he believed the Masked Man was hiding. Seeking to stop the mobster as soon as he could to ensure Temple's safety, Murdock chased him down and used his enhanced senses to calmly drop a fire extinguisher down onto his head, knocking him out without any killing. Murdock noticed that Santino had witnessed the attack and ran away back into his own apartment. Together, both Murdock and Temple dragged the unconscious mobster up to the roof.[2]

Questioning Semyon

"You're right what you said before. I kill you, somebody takes your place, but they'll end up back here just like you, and sooner or later, one of you is gonna tell me what I need to know. This is important. Shh! Listen, I need you to know why I'm hurting you. It's not just the boy. I'm doing this 'cause I enjoy it."

Once onto the roof, Murdock tied up Semyon ready for interrogation while asking Claire Temple if she had found anything on his phone, while she claimed the phone had been smashed when Semyon had been hit with the extinguisher. Murdock and Temple debated while she had ever helped him, with Temple noting that she had tried to help a man in need and found a man clearly capable of much more than a normal man, with Murdock noting that his ability to take punishment without complaining was more likely due to being catholic.

Murdock and Temple discuss all his actions

When Murdock noted that nobody would take in somebody like him purely out of faith, Temple admitted that while working at Metro-General Hospital as a nurse, she had been hearing even more stories recently of the New York City Police Department bringing in criminals who had been stopped by a masked man as well as a nineteen year old waitress who had also been saved from being raped by Murdock. While Temple claimed to want to believe in Murdock's mission, he confessed to knowing that she was afraid, to which he claimed that she must not give into the fear that she was feeling or the men like Semyon and those he worked for would win against them.

Murdock provided Temple with a mask and began questioning the mobster on the location of the missing boy, telling him that he would hurt him when he lied. Murdock demanded to know where Anatoly and Vladimir Ranskahov where keeping the kidnapped boy, to which Semyon claimed the boy was dead. Murdock then hit Semyon for lying but still failed to get the truth from him, with Semyon mocking Murdock for falling for his plan. Desperate to get the truth from him, Temple suggested that Murdock should stab Semyon just above his eye-socket, causing Semyon some incredible pain.

When that still did not work, Murdock admitting that Semyon was right that if he killed him, then another Russian thug would take his place, but promised that sooner or later, one of them would talk. Cutting Semyon free, Murdock then dragged him across the roof and threatened to throw him off the edge. As Murdock claimed to enjoy the fear this put in him, this eventually made Semyon tell him exactly where the boy was: underneath a restaurant in New York City which was controlled by the Russians. Semyon claimed the Ranskahovs would kill Murdock as soon as he arrived at the restaurant.

Sick of hearing his mockeries, Murdock still threw Semyon off the roof, letting him fall into the same dumpster he had been pulled from earlier by Santino. When Temple asked if he was alive, Murdock assured her he was, having heard his faint heartbeat. Murdock told Temple that it would be wise for her to relocate from her apartment, as when he awoke he would be back with more enemies. As Temple admitted she had somewhere to go, Murdock requested the address in case he needed her help later on. As he prepared to leave, Temple claimed she did not believe Murdock enjoyed what he did.[2]

Murdock then went to Troika Restaurant where the boy was being held hostage, silently getting past any guards and preparing to fight to protect the boy from any harm. He arrived and immediately began walking down the hallways and began listening closely to get a sense of where all the Veles Taxi mobsters were positioned, ensuring that he had the best tactical position to try and help the boy however he could, hearing multiple men in two different rooms who were within the hallway.

Murdock fights against the Russian mobsters

Despite all of the pain he was still in, Murdock gathered all of the strength he had left and began fighting the mobsters hired by Anatoly and Vladimir Ranskahov, while using the element of surprise to his advantage. Charging into the room, Murdock was sure to disarm the men from the guns first, forcing them to fight with their fists where Murdock was at a clear advantage, easily subduing the men during the brawl. Even when the other room came out to help in the fight, Murdock heard them coming and then threw a large safe at one man, knocking him unconscious as the fight continued in the hall.

Murdock rescues the young kidnapped boy

Despite more mobsters coming out and trying to stop his attack, Murdock continued fighting with all of his might against the criminals, determined to beat them back so that he could rescue the child Semyon had told him they were planning on selling. Murdock came out as the winner with all the mobsters lying unconscious on the floor or in too much pain to move as Murdock got to his feet and unlocked the kidnapped boy's door. Murdock then removed his mask and freed the boy, telling him that he was now safe. Murdock carried him from the restaurant and later returned him to his family.[2]

Defending John Healy

Murdock speaks to Father Lantom

"A man is dead, a man is dead and my client, John Healy, took his life, this is not in dispute, it is a matter of record, of fact and facts have no moral judgement they merely state what is, not what we think of them, not what we feel, they just are. What was in my client's heart when he took Mr. Prohaszka's life, whether he is a good man or something else entirely is irrelevant."

The next morning Murdock visited his church and spoke to Father Lantom. Lantom told him that he was aware he was Jack Murdock's son but assured him that through the seal of confession he could not tell anyone what they had spoken about. He asked if Murdock was there for confession, but he told him he was not. Fantom then suggested that Murdock should join him for a cup of coffee but Murdock said they would do it another time.[7]

Back at the office, Murdock and Nelson were visited by James Wesley, who asked them to represent his client John Healy, who had just brutally murdered a gangster called Prohaszka. When Wesley left the office, having insulted Karen Page, Murdock followed him, tracking him by the tick of his watch. Murdock heard Wesley enter a limo and be driven away He considered following him, but Murdock felt a pain in his side and felt blood running from an open wound. Although he showed initial uncertainty towards the case, Murdock decided to take the case in an attempt to learn who was behind the criminal activity in Hell's Kitchen.

Murdock and Nelson cross-examined Healy, who clearly was experienced in court proceedings. They began working out a strategy to get Healy off by claiming self-defense. During the trial, Murdock noticed a female juror's heart begin to beat faster when Wesley entered, Murdock tracked down the man threatening her and forced him to leave her alone. Murdock later gave a speech during the trial claiming that there was not enough evidence to convict Healy. As the result was being read out, Murdock noticed that another juryman's heart raced as Wesley entered; the jury announced a hung jury, resulting in Healy's freedom.

Murdock later tracked down and confronted Healy. The pair began to fight, Healy using objects around him to attack Murdock. After an exhausting fight, Murdock came out as the victor and began questioning Healy on who his employer was. Eventually, Healy claimed it was Wilson Fisk. Healy told Murdock that now that he had revealed Fisk's name, he, his family and his friends would all become targets. Seeing no alternative, Healy called Murdock a coward for not killing him before he slammed his own face into an iron spike, killing him instantly. Murdock could only listen in horror.[7]

Pursuing the Russians

Murdock throws a Russian out of a window

"You really need to get some kind of body armor or something.""It would slow me down too much.""So will a bullet."

Murdock later attacked the Russian gangster Anatoly Ranskahov and his men. Although Ranskahov escaped with only minor injuries, Murdock was able to throw one of his men out of a window and onto his car. After escaping, Murdock went to Claire Temple to treat his injuries. Later, he received a phone call from Temple just as she was being kidnapped by Russian mobsters. Murdock ran to her aid but was too late. He spoke to her neighbor Santino who was able to reveal that she had been taken away in a taxi driven by the Russians.

Murdock arrived at the taxi's firm where he found Temple being beaten and tortured by the Russians. Murdock switched off the lights in the room and managed to fight off the Russians in the dark and rescued Temple. He took her back to his apartment and tried to comfort her. Temple asked him to feel her heart and tell her how she was feeling; Murdock knew then that she was terribly afraid for her life. However, Temple assured him that he could do something about that fear. Murdock then revealed to her his real first name.[8]

He tended to Claire's wounds and explained that his other senses, such as balance and direction, where enhanced, allowing him to detect micro-changes in air density, vibrations and temperature, which made his impressionistic radar/sonar-like sense. He asked her to stay at his apartment for her safety and they ended up sharing a kiss. The next night, Murdock followed a taxi carrying a blind man to a warehouse. Once there, he attacked the Russian gangsters guarding the man, although the blind man was killed after being shot in the cross-fire, Murdock was able to catch one of the gangsters, Piotr. Murdock tried to learn the location of Vladimir Ranskahov, who Claire had heard about when she was captured, but Piotr begged him not to cut off his head. When Murdock asked what he meant, Piotr told him that everyone believed the masked man had cut off the head of Ranskahov's brother Anatoly. Before he could learn any more, the police arrived and Murdock made his escape, leaving Piotr to be arrested.

Back at the office, Murdock began to ask Foggy Nelson and Karen Page whether they had heard about a Russian gangster having his head cut off before they were interrupted by the arrival of Elena Cardenas. Mrs. Cardenas explained that she needed legal help as her landlord was attempting to kick her out of her property and demolish her home after failing to finish repair work to the property. They agreed to take the case and Murdock told Mrs. Cardenas that Nelson would speak to her landlord's lawyer while he went to the NYPD. Nelson complained, knowing that the landlord was represented by their former employers Landman and Zack.[9]

Murdock arrived at the police department and spoke to Brett Mahoney. Murdock explained the situation to Mahoney and asked to see the complaint files against Armand Tully, who owned Cardenas' home. Mahoney agreed and asked Murdock to wait. While he was waiting, Murdock overheard the questioning of Piotr, the mobster he had attacked the night before. Using his enhanced hearing, he heard Piotr asking for a deal in exchange for information on his employer Wilson Fisk. The two officers questioning him, Christian Blake and Carl Hoffman, turned out to also be under Fisk's pay. They pretended to be attacked by Piotr and shot him before Murdock could do anything.

Knowing that the detectives were working for Fisk, Murdock tracked down and attacked detective Christian Blake. Blake tried to stick to his story that the Russian had attacked his partner, until Murdock began breaking his arm. Murdock asked him why Fisk had had Prohaszka murdered; he refused to answer, so Murdock knocked him out and stole his phone. Murdock later called Claire Temple and had her help him look at the phone. She told him the phone had a list of four locations sent to it. He recognized the addresses as locations under the control of the Russians. Murdock went to go after the locations, but Temple told him that she could not fall in love with someone who was so willing to put his life in danger.[9]

Final Days of the Russians

Murdock traveled to a location from the list on Blake's phone and found a pair of Russian guards standing by the door. Murdock began fighting the men. During the fight he overheard panic inside the building and knew a bomb was about to be set off. Murdock was shielded by his opponent as the door was blown off towards them as the building exploded, killing the Russians inside. When he awoke, Murdock caught Vladimir Ranskahov attempting to escape the wreckage. He attacked him and knocked him out, but before he could do anything, the police arrived and attempted to arrest him. Murdock was able to fight off the police, who mentioned killing them as they were "told" to leave "no witnesses", meaning that they were corrupt. He was unable to stop Ranskahov from being shot in the side, although he managed to escape with Ranskahov's unconscious body.[9]

Murdock carried Ranskahov to an abandoned building and began questioning him. Ranskahov claimed that Murdock was responsible for the murder of his brother Anatoly Ranskahov and that he had been working with Wilson Fisk. Murdock told him that he had been played by Fisk, who was responsible for Anatoly's murder and the destruction of his warehouses. Murdock offered to help him escape from Fisk's men, in exchange for information that would help him make Fisk pay for everything he had done, Ranskahov crudely refused before losing consciousness.

Murdock lights a flare to burn Ranskahov's open wound

Knowing that Vladimir Ranskahov would die without medical attention, which he could not give him, Murdock phoned Claire Temple for assistance. He explained the situation to her and asked her to walk him through saving his life, but when he explained who it was they were helping, Temple was furious. She agreed to help, however, and asked Murdock to tell her what tools he had available. Murdock used his heightened senses to detect a flare in the warehouse. Under Temple's instruction, Murdock lit the flare and used it to burn Ranskahov's open wound, sealing it. Ranskahov screamed in agony until he lost consciousness again.[10]

Murdock heard a police officer arriving in the warehouse, after hearing Ranskahov's screams. Murdock attacked the man and began questioning him. Murdock realized that the officer was a new cop who had not been paid off by Fisk. Murdock ordered the man to call off backup, but instead the officer told them that he had been taken hostage. Murdock was unable to knock him out in time to stop him. Murdock tied up the officer before pulling the officer's gun apart and throwing it away. Murdock began questioning Ranskahov again, who asked him about his morals on not killing people but being willing to let people die. Murdock reminded Ranskahov that Fisk had taken down his operation and had enough police in his pocket to ensure that Ranskahov was killed before he could leak information. Ranskahov agreed and told the man about his first encounter with Fisk and how their operation first came about. Murdock learned that Fisk was working with the Chinese. Ranskahov told him there was one name he needed to know, the name of Fisk's money man. When Murdock leaned in to hear it, Ranskahov attacked him, causing them to fall through the floorboards.

The pair survived the fall and Murdock told him that it was not a smart thing to do. Ranskahov then lost consciousness again, and this time, he went into cardiac arrest. Murdock performed CPR and saved his life. Afterwards Murdock began to look for a way out, finding a sewage manhole cover but finding it was too hard to lift alone. He was interrupted when Wilson Fisk used Sullivan's radio to contact them. Murdock picked up the radio and spoke to his enemy for the first time. Fisk told him that they had a lot in common but Murdock assured him that they did not and he would bring him down. Fisk then offered Murdock the chance to kill Vladimir Ranskahov and go free. When Murdock refused, Fisk ordered his men to open fire at the police and release footage of Murdock attacking police. Fisk then hung up. Believing he'd be killed in the night, Murdock called Claire Temple to say goodbye and began searching for a way out. This time, however, Ranskahov helped and they made their way through the sewer.

Once in the sewer, they were attacked by a small team of ESU officers, Murdock was able to beat them but found the wounded Ranskahov had taken one of their guns and was aiming it at him. Ranskahov told him that he planned on staying behind and fighting to the death, as his testimony would not lead to Fisk's arrest and only death would stop Fisk. Murdock insisted that he was not a killer. Ranskahov told him that Fisk would destroy his life and his family. He then told him that Fisk's money man's name was Leland Owlsley. Murdock then escaped as Vladimir Ranskahov fought until his death.[10]

Reunion with Stick

Murdock discusses the Masked Man's actions

"You wanted a father and I wanted a soldier.""Then I guess we were both disappointed."

In the offices of Nelson and Murdock, Murdock, Foggy Nelson and Karen Page discussed the recent events in Hell's Kitchen, including the footage of the masked man seemingly attacking the New York City Police Department and helping Vladimir Ranskahov during the Bombing of Hell's Kitchen. Nelson had become convinced that the masked man was a terrorist while Page insisted he was not and while Murdock claimed to not have much of an opinion on the matter, he noted that while he was angry about Nelson and Elena Cardenas being hurt, he did not wish to condemn the actions of vigilantes straight away, keeping quiet about his own secret identity.

Murdock later tracked down and attacked Leland Owlsley who had just had a meeting with Nobu Yoshioka about transporting something secret that night. Murdock pinned Owlsley against his own car and demanded to know for whom he worked; when Owlsley lied and claimed he worked for Silver & Brent, Murdock punched him and explained that he knew he worked for Wilson Fisk and demanded to know what Fisk's upcoming plans were for New York City. Before he could get any more information from him, however, he was distracted by the sound of a man with a stick approaching; Owlsley used this moment to stun Murdock with a taser before escaping.

As Murdock lay on the ground and recovered from the shock of the taser, the man with the walking stick revealed himself to be Murdock's own former mentor Stick, who arrived and berated him for being beaten by an old man despite all the training they had done when Murdock was a child. Murdock rose to his feet and questioned what Stick was doing in Hell's Kitchen to which he claimed that he was there to save Murdock and everyone else in New York City from a horrible death, although Murdock remained somewhat skeptical of his true motives for returning to the city and seeking him out.

Murdock brought Stick back to his apartment, where Stick began to immediately insulted his comfortable lifestyle. Murdock argued that Stick was just pissed off he had made something of his life without his help. Stick told him he should abandon his life and live as a warrior, but when he insulted Jack Murdock's legacy, Murdock attacked him but was only able to break his hold. Stick revealed he was there to continue his war by fighting the Japanese and wanted the weapon Nobu Yoshioka was transporting, known as the Black Sky. Murdock agreed to help if Stick promised not to kill anyone.

The pair arrived at the dock that same night and soon discovered Yoshioka and his soldiers moving a large container from a cargo ship. Stick had Murdock identify how many soldiers were there and if they were armed with guns or not, which Murdock quickly confirmed that they were by listening and smelling all the senses around the area. Having worked out the situation, Stick sent Murdock down to the docks in order to silently subdue as many of Yoshioka's guards as he could as swiftly as he could while Stick remained on the rooftop and awaited his signal to move down and join him there.

Stick sent Murdock down to fight off Yoshioka's soldiers; he went down and silently knocked out a few of the guards without raising the alarm. When the container was opened, Murdock realized that Black Sky was, in fact, a young child. Sensing that Stick was preparing to shoot the child with an arrow, Murdock then leapt into action and deflected the arrow, alerting the guards to his presence. Yoshioka escaped with Black Sky and Murdock fought off the guards. When the guards were defeated, Murdock realized Stick was gone.

Returning to his apartment, Murdock found Stick waiting for him there. Upon being confronted about lying about what was hidden inside the container, Stick revealed that he had hunted down and murdered the Black Sky. Furious at the realization, Murdock attacked his former mentor; during the fight most of Murdock's apartment was damaged or destroyed. Stick was able to maintain the upper hand during the majority of their fight as he even began kicking Murdock as he lay wounded on the floor, but in the end, Murdock managed to defeat him. Murdock threw Stick's bag at him and demanded that he leave his home and never return to New York City again.

As Stick collected his belongings and got to his feet, he mockingly claimed that there was hope for Murdock yet to join the Chaste and that it had been nice to catch up with him. Once Stick had gone, Murdock was cleaning up his apartment when he found the bracelet he had made for Stick as a child, which he believed Stick had destroyed when he had left him as a child during their training together. Upon finding his token of his love for his mentor, Murdock sat in silence and tried to consider what Stick's motive's were for tracking him down after so many years being apart.[5]

Exposing Fisk

Meeting Ben Urich

Murdock argues with Nelson and Page

The next morning, Murdock awoke in his wrecked apartment and went to work. Arriving, Murdock overheard Foggy Nelson and Karen Page discussing their secret investigation of Union Allied Construction. Murdock tried to convince them to leave it alone for their own good, but Page was insistent. They told him they were working with Ben Urich, who would break the story for them. Murdock agreed to help them, as long as they promised they would bring down Union Allied through the legal system. While they investigated the case, Page told them Detective Christian Blake had just woken up in hospital after being shot.

When Murdock arrived at Blake's hospital ward, he found Carl Hoffman injecting him with poison. Murdock put Hoffman in a chokehold and knocked him out before turning his attention to Blake. He locked the door and informed Blake the poison had already reached his heart; there was nothing anyone could do to save his life. The vigilante told Blake to tell him everything he knew about Wilson Fisk. Once Blake had given him the information he needed, Murdock escaped the room moments before the police kicked down the door and found Blake lying dead.

Murdock later tracked down Ben Urich, the journalist Karen Page had been speaking to. Murdock insisted he was not the one responsible for the explosions in Hell's Kitchen. Instead, he wanted Urich to expose the man who was--Fisk. Urich was initially unsure about this claim. When he pressed Murdock for proof, the vigilante was unable to provide any. However, Murdock did reveal to Urich the details of Fisk's operation, including Leland Owlsley's involvement and Fisk's part in the murder of Detective Blake. Urich ultimately agreed to write the article. However, not long afterwards, Fisk made a public announcement which contradicted everything Urich would have said.[11]

Questioning Morality

Considering the recent events, Murdock went to Father Lantom for counsel and accepted his offer for a latte. Once Lantom had poured his coffee, Murdock asked him if he believed in the Devil and if it walked among them. Lantom told Murdock the tale of a holy man he had met while working overseas; Lantom had witnessed the man and his entire family murdered by a military commander. Lantom claimed that he had seen the Devil in the eyes of the man who had murdered his friend.

Murdock arrived back at the offices of Nelson and Murdock to find Ben Urich was having a meeting with Karen Page and Foggy Nelson about what to do about bringing down Fisk. Murdock joined the debate, agreeing with most of Urich's points as they both wanted to keep everyone as safe as possible; they discussed tracking down Armand Tully who was responsible for moving tenants from their homes under Fisk's orders. When Page commented on how "bad ass" the man in the mask was, Murdock could not help but smile, despite Nelson still claiming that the man was a terrorist.

As their leads proved more and more fruitless, they were visited by Elena Cardenas, who revealed that Wilson Fisk had doubled the offer to get the tenants to move from their homes. They agreed to refuse the offer and to continue to fight back. After she had gone however, Murdock argued that it was too dangerous to fight Fisk this way as he was sure to win. He told them to continue digging as he believed they would find some lost document somewhere. Murdock then went out to look for the woman who appeared with Fisk at his press event; Page confirmed which art gallery she worked and Murdock left.[12]

Meeting Wilson Fisk

Murdock arrived at the Scene Contempo Gallery where he was soon approached by Vanessa Marianna. Murdock jokingly explained the reasons for a blind man looking to purchase art as he claimed his guests would often state his home was a bit stark and he wished to warm it up. Marianna began describing some of the pieces of artwork for Murdock to imagine. He then asked her if she was seeing anyone, claiming to wish to know what a man who won her heart appreciated in art.

Just as they were speaking, Wilson Fisk then arrived in the building; although he had to control his anger, Murdock greeted him warmly. Fisk claimed that if he wished to purchase art he should buy whatever Marianna suggested; Murdock however then reminded him that they should not be speaking as they were on opposing sides of a law case involving Elena Cardenas and Armand Tully. The pair then briefly discussed their own hopes for the future of New York City, with Fisk claiming that it's future meant a great deal to him, until Murdock left claiming he needed to consider the cost of the art work.

Seeking moral guidance, Murdock went to visit Father Lantom again. Murdock told Lantom that he had been to visit someone close to the devil and had only learned that Fisk now had someone he loved, who loved him. Lantom tried to convince Murdock to leave the judgment to God, as he did not wish for Murdock to commit murder. Murdock and Lantom discussed if it was better to commit murder or allow someone to cause harm without being stopped. Lantom then posed the question if Murdock was struggling that he had to kill the Devil but did not want to, or that he did not have to but wanted to.[12]

Returning to the Nelson and Murdock Law Office the next morning, Murdock informed Karen Page that he had not gotten the information he had wanted from Marianna while Page revealed that they had identified Stewart Schmidt and Joseph Pike as her attackers from the other night. Foggy Nelson then arrived and changing the subject, presented Murdock with an official sign for Nelson and Murdock that they had designed years earlier when the firm was just a dream of theirs and they shared a laugh as they teased each other. While they were celebrating however, Page received a call that Elena Cardenas had been murdered.

They went together to identify the body and Brett Mahoney revealed that a junkie had stabbed Cardenas multiple times while stealing her purse outside her apartment door and she had died at the scene. As Mahoney noted that his mother who had been a friend of Cardenas' had informed him that her family were all dead, Murdock and Nelson promised that they would take charge of all funeral arrangements. While Nelson comforted the heartbroken Page, Murdock stood in silence and gripped his cain tighter as he planned his own revenge against those responsible for his friend's senseless murder.

The group went to Josie's Bar to drown their sorrows with alcohol, with Josie giving them the drinks for free; there they discussed the idea that Cardenas' death was not a random act of violence but a planned assassination. While they were talking, Wilson Fisk appeared on the Television claiming to be mourning Cardenas' death. Murdock and Page then discussed religion where Murdock revealed his own Catholic beliefs and how they helped him cope with emotional pain. Murdock then claimed to have had enough and left the bar to head back home, promising Fisk would get what he deserved.[12]

Hunting the Junkie

Murdock puts down his outfit to seek justice

"I've hurt a lot of people tonight to get what I need know, the asshole who killed Mrs. Cardenas shoots up at this address, likes cheap mentos, thinks it covers the stench of his rotting teeth, it doesn't. Who paid who? Was it Fisk? Was it Wilson Fisk?""I don't know! Please stop! I don't know their names!"

Returning to his apartment, Murdock pulled out the box containing his black suit and prepared himself to go out into New York City in his search for justice. Pausing for a while to consider what he was willing to do and what it would mean for his own soul, Murdock decided this was the right thing for him to do and, putting on his black suit, Murdock hunted down the junkie who had murdered Elena Cardenas. Finding all those with the Steel Serpent heroin, Murdock demanded to know where the man was who had killed her was living, threatening to break a man's arm.

Eventually Murdock's interrogation skills paid off and he found the man who kill Cardenas high on drugs before he violently questioned him, throwing him into broken glass which cut both of his hands. As Junkie Jake claimed not to know the names of the men who hired him, stating he had been taken to Pier 81 Warehouse and given his orders by a man in a suit and that he did not want to commit the murder but he was sick from his need for drugs. Having gained the information he needed, Murdock then ordered the man to go and surrender himself to Brett Mahoney at the police station.

Arriving at the Pier 81 Warehouse, armed with his escrima sticks, Murdock was confronted by Nobu Yoshioka, who was wearing an all red ninja suit. Murdock complimented Yoshioka on his ability to slow his heartbeat and reduce his own body temperature to ensure the encounter was a surprise. Murdock noted he remembered Yoshioka from the sale of the Black Sky which he and Stick had stopped, although Murdock insisted he was not a part of the war between the Chaste and the Hand while Yoshioka noted his displeasure at what had occurred.

As the two fought a violent battle, Murdock was vastly outmatched and was cut and stabbed repeatedly by Yoshioka's Kyoketsu-shoge. As it appeared that Murdock would not be able to fight anymore and was close to death, Yoshioka commented that Murdock was a worthy opponent and that he considered it to be an honor to claim his life. Eventually, Murdock, barely able to stand, managed to kick Yoshioka, which caused a damaged fuel tank to leak onto Yoshioka's feet, which got ignited and immolated him when Murdock deflected his blade into a lamp that showered sparks down upon Yoshioka.

The sparks ignited causing Yoshioka to burst into flames and, despite still attempting to continue the fight, the ninja quickly died from his wounds, falling to the ground as his body continued to burn. However before he could escape, Murdock was confronted by Wilson Fisk, who was accompanied by James Wesley and one of his guards. Fisk claimed he had used Murdock to murder Yoshioka, although he had wished that they had killed each other as he also wanted Yoshioka dead, and admitted to organizing the death of Elena Cardenas in order to draw him to this location for this final battle.

Murdock told him he would kill him for everything he had done and although his men threatened to shoot Murdock, Fisk confidently ordered them to stand down and invited him to take his shot. As the two began fighting, but the wounded Murdock was no match for Fisk and was brutally beaten. During the fight, he tried to cut Fisk using Yoshioka's Kyoketsu-shoge and learned he was wearing Melvin Potter's body armor within his suit which protected him. This close encounter only enraged Fisk further as he proceeded to violently beat Murdock into submission, smashing his body against a table.

As Murdock lay wounded and the fight finally over as it appeared that the Masked Man had no more energy to defend himself, Fisk noted that he was disappointed at the fight's conclusion before he ordered both James Wesley and Francis to shoot him and put an end to his vigilante activities. Refusing to give up however, Murdock threw one of his sticks to block Wesley's gun and then managed to dodge the bullets before he leapt from the window into the water and swim back to New York City and to safety before Fisk and his men could find him and finish the job of finally killing him as was planned.

Despite his many life threatening injuries, Murdock eventually made it back to his apartment where he crashed into several items which alerted Foggy Nelson who was at the door. Nelson managed to break inside the apartment to check on his close friend's well being and discovered Murdock stood in the suit before he collapsed from his wounds. As Murdock lay on the ground, he was unmasked by Nelson who first suspected that the Masked Man had kidnapped his friend but then was mortified to discover his friend was actually the vigilante of Hell's Kitchen the whole time without him knowing.[12]

Nelson vs Murdock

Murdock recovers from his injures

"If you weren't half dead I would kick your ass, Murdock; am I lying about that?""No."

Nelson called Claire Temple who arrived and treated Murdock's injuries. When he regained consciousness, Murdock found Nelson still in his apartment, furious about having been lied to for all the years of their friendship. Nelson questioned if Murdock was the one responsible for the bombing and shooting police officers. Murdock told him that Fisk was responsible for everything. When Karen Page called Murdock's phone, Nelson turned the phone off. When Page called Nelson, he answered and told her that Murdock was in a car accident. He then demanded that Murdock tell him everything about his abilities and his history.

Murdock told him how he was trained by Stick and how he had been taught to use his blindness as an advantage. Later Nelson received a call from Brett Mahoney informing him that the junkie who killed Elena Cardenas had seemingly committed suicide by jumping off a roof. Murdock told Nelson that he had never killed anyone but wanted to after Cardenas' death, telling him how he had gone to the warehouse with the intention of killing Wilson Fisk. Murdock then told Nelson how his abilities actually developed as he was a child and how he tried not to become a fighter to make his father proud, but was left with no choice when he heard about a little girl being abused by her father, leading him to attack the father, putting him on the path to wearing the mask. During their continued arguments Nelson compared Murdock to Fisk and told him he would not have kept this a secret from him before storming out.[3]

Mental and Physical Recovery

Seeking Friendship and Guidance

Murdock is given a balloon

Karen Page arrived the next morning to check on Murdock, believing him to have been in a car accident. Murdock opened a bottle of beer for himself and skirted around the questions Page threw at him. Page started to suspect there was not a car accident and Murdock had endangered himself, making an enemy of Wilson Fisk after meeting Vanessa Marianna. She asked him if someone had broken in and beaten him up and Murdock said nothing. Page then told him that they had discovered that Fisk's mother was still alive and living under the name Marlene Vistain and Fisk had murdered his father as a young boy. Murdock reminded skeptical as he did not believe it would make a difference. Page left after giving Murdock a balloon.

When Murdock tried to move too much he pulled out his stitches, so he called Claire Temple, who returned to stitch up is wounds again. They spoke about how Murdock used meditation to help heal his wounds. Temple suggested that Murdock should invest in body armor to protect himself. He told her how he had sensed that Wilson Fisk wore a special light body armor. Temple then announced that she was planning on leaving the city for a few months. She told him that she believed he had been killed the night the Russians were blown up and they knew that they could only be together if Murdock stopped wearing the mask, which he never would. She left after telling him she would always be there to patch him up and comparing him to a martyr.

With little confidence, Murdock returned to church to seek guidance from Father Lantom. Murdock told him that he did not kill the man he had told him about, but that he had wanted to. He explained how Claire Temple had told him that if he continued what he was doing, he would end up bloody and alone. Lantom revealed that he knew that Murdock was indeed the man in the mask who was attacking criminals at night, although he did not know how he did it. Murdock asked why God had put the Devil within him and they discussed what the Devil actually represented.[13]

Designing the Red Suit

Murdock returned home and tried to meditate to calm his mind and recover his body, but he continued to suffer from the memories of his violent fights with Nobu Yoshioka and Wilson Fisk. Putting his suit back on, he tracked down and chased Turk Barrett and disarmed him. He threatened that if he went for any of his backup weapons, he would throw him off the roof. Murdock demanded to know where Fisk got his armored suits from. Barrett initially claimed to not know but quickly revealed that it was Melvin Potter when Murdock nearly threw him off the roof.

Arriving at Melvin Potter's Workshop, Murdock explored the Workshop and noticed the designs and blueprints on the tables. He was soon interrupted by the arrival of Melvin Potter. Potter appeared confused and frightened, claiming that no one should be there. Potter then attacked Murdock with martial arts, brute strength similar to Wilson Fisk's and various items around the workshop including chains and buzzsaws. Eventually, Murdock managed to overpower Potter with a strangle hold and spoke to him. Murdock quickly realized that Potter was a mentally unstable man who was being forced to work for Wilson Fisk under the threat that his friend and caregiver Betsy Beatty would be killed. Murdock promised he would protect Potter and Beatty if he designed an armored suit for him.[13]

Murdock arrived back at the Nelson and Murdock Law Office and found Foggy Nelson and Karen Page speaking to each other. After an awkward encounter with Nelson as he was leaving in which neither said a word, Murdock spoke to Page. Page told him that Nelson believed that he was responsible for the death of Elena Cardenas. She tried to convince Murdock to repair his relationship with his friend. Murdock suspected that Page was hiding something. When he asked if something had happened she told him that the world had fallen apart.[14]

Bringing down the Drug Trade

Murdock met with Ben Urich outside his office and asked him for information regarding the heroin he had taken from the junkie who had killed Elena Cardenas. He told Urich that he believed since the Russians had been wiped out, Wilson Fisk would have likely taken over distribution of the heroin and he wanted to disrupt that trade to throw Fisk off balance. When Urich revealed he was working on something he believed could help, Murdock told him to keep his head down, using Anatoly Ranskahov's death as an example. Urich told him it was a woman running the Chinese drug trade and they were using blind men and women to deliver the heroin. Urich jokingly told Murdock he needed a new outfit and Murdock assured him he was working on it.

Murdock searches for the blind drug movers

Waiting on the street where Ben Urich told him he had seen the blind men delivering the drugs, Murdock used his heightened hearing. He waited to hear the taps of a cane. Murdock followed a blind woman until she was picked up by a car. Murdock followed the car using the classical music it was playing to keep track of its location, running and using acrobatics to move across rooftops until it stopped outside a warehouse. Murdock listened and memorized the secret knock to gain entry and returned home. While stitching up his wounds again he called Karen Page to tell her he would not be coming into the office as he claimed he was working on something that could help the case.

Murdock attacks the Chinese base

Murdock used the secret knock to gain entry into the Chinese drug den. Once inside he took out the guards. He noticed that the workers did not take any notice of him, and he realized they all been blinded. He was spotted by the woman in charge, Madame Gao, who ordered the workers to attack him, resulting in them grouping up on him while he said he was trying to help them. Murdock survived the attack however and confronted Gao. She revealed that all her workers had blinded themselves rather than her blinding them because they had faith in her. When Murdock tried to ask her about Wilson Fisk, she pushed him to the floor and sent him sliding a few feet. When he looked up, she was nowhere to be seen. With the building burning down, Murdock ordered one of the guards to help the blind workers escape. As Murdock was leaving he was confronted by Brett Mahoney who attempted to arrest him. Murdock knocked him down and told him that Christian Blake and Carl Hoffman were dirty cops before escaping.

Murdock returned to the office to find Karen Page had locked the door. Page asked him if the company had become three people who never speak to each other. In response Murdock quoted Stick's speech that he should push the people he cared about away, and told her that although he had tried to ignore that advice, he clearly had listened to those words and taken them to heart. He told Page that he had had a terrible night in which he had seen the worst of humanity and learned that he could not do what he did alone anymore. As he broke down crying, Page took him in her arms and comforted him, telling him that he was not alone and he never was.[14]

Personal Loss

After Ben Urich was found murdered in his home, Murdock and Karen Page attended his funeral, led by Father Lantom. He listened as Page spoke to Ben's widow Doris Urich. Lantom approached Murdock to ask how he was holding up after the death of his friend. Murdock told him he felt that it was his fault that Urich had died, as he had not stopped Fisk. Back at the office, Page expressed her anger that Urich's former boss Mitchell Ellison had attended, as she believed he had been taking money from Wilson Fisk. They then discussed Foggy Nelson, who had failed to turn up to the funeral. Page told Murdock she was too afraid to return home in case Fisk ever found out she was with Urich when they spoke to his mother. Murdock swore to protect her.

Murdock attempted to question Ben Urich's former boss Mitchell Ellison but failed. While training at Fogwell's Gym, Murdock was visited by Foggy Nelson. When Murdock asked how he had found him, Nelson told him he had always known about the gym but assumed it was something to do with Murdock's father so he had never questioned it. They spoke about Karen Page's reactions to Nelson not attending the funeral and their own relationship. Nelson revealed that he had been working with Marci Stahl, who had been copying files concerning Landman and Zack's dealings with Wilson Fisk and Leland Owlsley, Murdock told him to leave it alone as this is what killed Urich. Nelson desperately tried to convince him not to go after Fisk in the mask again, and to use the law instead. They agreed to work together again.[15]

Bringing down Fisk

The pair met with Brett Mahoney who spoke about the warehouse fire at Madame Gao's base. He told them about his encounter with the masked man and how he was starting to believe that Wilson Fisk was the enemy, mentioning that there was not a single fingerprint at the scene of Ben Urich's death. During their conversation Murdock overheard two officers talking about hunting down Carl Hoffman. They continued their research back at the Nelson and Murdock offices where Karen Page commented on how nice it was to be back together. They looked through the files given to them by Marci Stahl to try and find anything in the money movements that could lead them to where Leland Owlsley could be keeping Carl Hoffman. Eventually Page worked out that there was a property missing from the record and there was no profit from selling it, meaning it was being hidden from the records.

Murdock went down to the building and found a team of corrupt police officers had killed Owlsley's guards and were preparing to shoot Carl Hoffman. Murdock was able to save Hoffman and take out the corrupt officers. He sat opposite Hoffman and convinced him to give evidence against Wilson Fisk rather than sit and wait for someone to kill him. He told him to turn himself in to Brett Mahoney and use Nelson and Murdock as his lawyers. Murdock followed him to ensure he did as instructed and watched as Hoffman arrived at the precinct and gave himself up to Mahoney. Nelson and Murdock were hired as his lawyers and sat with him as he gave evidence against Fisk, exposing his entire operation and leading to the arrests of Turk Barrett, the corrupt cops, Senator Randolph Cherryh and Wilson Fisk.

Murdock, Nelson and Page celebrate

With Fisk being taken to prison, Murdock celebrated with Foggy Nelson and Karen Page. They raised their glasses in tribute to everyone Fisk had hurt, including Elena Cardenas and Ben Urich. However during their celebrations, a news report came on the television showing that the armored van carrying Wilson Fisk was being hijacked. They decided to get home quickly before they became endangered, but Murdock decided to leave them and get his own taxi. Nelson tried to convince him not to endanger himself but Murdock convinced him that he knew what he was doing. He took a cab to Melvin Potter's Workshop where he collected his new red and black armored suit. Standing on a rooftop, Murdock listened to the police sirens to try and locate Fisk.[15]

Finding the van transporting Wilson Fisk, Murdock threw one of his batons at the window, causing the driver to crash. Murdock then confronted Fisk and told him that not everyone deserved a happy ending. While Murdock fought his guards, Fisk attempted to escape on foot. After knocking out the guard with his batons, Murdock cornered his enemy. Fisk roared at Daredevil, telling him that he was going to kill him; Murdock repeated what Fisk had told him after his fight with Nobu Yoshioka and confidently told him to take his shot at killing him.

The pair engaged in a fierce and brutal fight, where Fisk's own brute strength and determination was equally matched with Murdock's speed and agility. Although Murdock's new armored suit offered extra protection, Fisk was still able to beat him nearly to death by throwing him at walls and hard onto the ground before beating him repeatedly with a metal pole, all the while ranting about how the city did not deserve heroes but deserved people like himself and his father and should be burned to the ground and rebuilt in his image as the people in it were scum who deserved to drown and die.

Determined to bring Fisk down once and for all, Murdock disarmed Fisk and used his own batons to beat him into submission, telling him that New York City was his home and he would not allow Fisk to destroy it. Barely able to stand due to the beating he had received, Fisk mocked Murdock's attempts to make a difference to the city all on his own while wearing what he had called a silly little costume. However Murdock used these insults to fuel his rage and launched himself through the air and, with a final hard punch to the face, Daredevil knocked out Fisk and left him on the ground.

However before Daredevil could leave the area without being caught, Officer Brett Mahoney then arrived on the scene and even threatened Daredevil, confused by seeing a man in a red suit in the middle of a dark allyway. Daredevil however remained perfectly calm despite being threatened and explained the situation to Mahoney, who called the rest of the New York City Police Department to inform them that the fugitive Wilson Fisk had been found. While Mahoney arrested Fisk, he asked what he should now call Daredevil, who escaped by climbing up various fire escapes to the rooftop.[15]

Daredevil

Protecting New York

The next morning, Karen Page read the newspaper article regarding Wilson Fisk's arrest at the hands of Daredevil and joked about the name and the costume. Foggy Nelson finished attaching a sign to the outside of the Nelson and Murdock offices. They discussed how long it could take for Fisk to go to trial. Murdock then spoke to Page alone, commenting that there was still something in her voice that told him she was still frightened; she told him that putting Fisk behind bars would not bring back Ben Urich or Elena Cardenas or erase the trauma they had been through. He told her all they could do was move forward.

Daredevil overlooks his city

That same night, Murdock put on his new suit again, overlooking his beloved city. Hearing the screams of a women in danger, Daredevil readied his batons and ran off the roof to save them.[15] During the next few months, Daredevil continued fighting crime, tracking down and ambushed Turk Barrett who had now escaped Seagate Prison.[16] Daredevil also helped Zuly Almeida, a client of Nelson and Murdock, whose husband attempted to kill her. Daredevil brutally assaulted him, which resulted in Almeida sustaining two broken arms and waking up in Metro-General Hospital with a restraining ordered safety pinned to his chest by Murdock himself, ending the abuse.[17]

Guardian Devil

Daredevil looking for a robber in a church.

"Mr. Almedia walked out of his apartment with the intention to hack Mrs. Almeida into many bloody pieces, starting by taking off her head. Guess what, it never happened, instead he woke up in a hospital with two broken arms and a restraining order safety pinned to his chest. If I take a night off, people get hurt."

Daredevil chased down four robbers in New York City. He subdued the first one who was about to kill a police officer. The second one, he cornered and brutally beat in the kitchen of a restaurant; the third one, who was interrupted by a man who nearly drove him over and whose car he was about to steal, he knocked out and told the driver to call 9-1-1. The final one took a teenage girl hostage and held himself up in a church.

Daredevil watches criminals being arrested

Daredevil soon tracked the criminal down and cornered him where he threw his Billy Club in such a way that he managed to knock out all of the lights in the room, causing the criminal to panic. Daredevil then revealed himself in the darkness of the church and, after a brief stand off, he managed to subdue the robber and secure the girl's safety as officers arrived, while Daredevil took his position on the roof of the church where he could not be discovered. As he watched from above, more officers arrived to the scene, Daredevil smiled happily, having now fully immersed himself in his vigilante lifestyle.[17]

The next morning Murdock and Foggy Nelson walked towards the Nelson and Murdock Law Office together with Nelson telling him about his date the previous night. As the two joked, Nelson noticed blood coming from the back of Murdock's head from his latest outing as Daredevil. While Murdock insisted they didn't have to talk about it, Nelson insisted, and told Murdock that he was having a hard time making excuses for his injuries, and pointed out that he would be arrested, or at the very least, disbarred from practicing law, only for Murdock to claim that Nelson would just continue to run the firm without him if it came to it.

Murdock learns of their financial problems

Murdock then proceeded to tell him the story of Zuly Almeida and insisted that if he took a night off as Daredevil people would get hurt. Nelson told Murdock that he didn't want to lose him and Murdock assured him he wouldn't. Arriving at the office, the two met up with Karen Page, who proceeded to lay out the cases they had today, including Jacinto, Marino and Maxwell before telling them in private that while they had more clients then ever, they were broke. Murdock insisted they would get by somehow, noting he did not know how, and they moved on to focus on their current clients.[17]

Punisher Hunt

A New Criminal Client

"If you're the only one who survived your good fortune is going to rub some powerful people the wrong way.""No shit! I got a pack of killers gunning for my men, my people think I'm a traitor or a rat."

Later Murdock, Foggy Nelson and Karen Page went to Josie's Bar where they shot pool. When Nelson went to get some more drinks Page helped Murdock try to shoot. He then heard her heart racing. Murdock picked up another rapid heartbeat as well, mentioning it to Nelson along with the fact that the man had his finger on the trigger of a gun. Murdock went to confront the man named Grotto, a low member of the Kitchen Irish, who was actually looking for both him and Nelson.

Taking a seat at their table with Nelson, Murdock, and Page, Grotto described a massacre in which every Irish member was killed by some king of army. After listening to his heart beat Murdock knew he was telling the truth and warned that he would become a target for going to them for help. Grotto then claimed that he only wanted to be placed in witness protection. Grotto then told them he would give the police anything if he could get out of New York City, and he told them all he wanted was a second chance to do right. He then collapsed, from a wound he had sustained during the gunfire.

Murdock and Nelson are told of a massacre

Murdock and Nelson went to the scene of the massacre which was now being investigated by the New York City Police Department. Meeting up with Brett Mahoney, who refused to tell them anything, Murdock used his superhuman hearing to listen in on the cops who revealed that the gangsters were wearing body armor. Mahoney relented and told the lawyers that this wasn’t the first huge gang hit, and that the police thought a paramilitary outfit of some sort was behind the attacks. Mahoney then warned them to keep their witness away. Murdock decided to investigate further, as Daredevil.[17]

Confronting Turk Barrett

"The Irish had a whole squad massacred tonight.""That's a damn shame cause I'm fresh outta sympathy cards.""There's talk about an army in town, military grade firepower, high volume, whose the supplier Turk?""You think I know? Shit like that's so high above my pay grade. I'm telling you the truth. That tin in my trunk couldn't kill a rabbit."

Daredevil disrupted the deal going on between Turk Barrett involving firearms. After defeating the thugs and Barrett, Daredevil interrogated Barrett, asking about who had supplied the weapons that had caused the Massacre at the Burren Club. When Daredevil literally twisted his arm, Barrett told Daredevil that the Mexican Cartel might be behind the the attack before he was then knocked out by Daredevil and left for the police to arrive and arrest him once again.

Daredevil then went to the location given to him by Barrett where the Mexican Cartel were hiding out, only to discover most of them dead and hung on meat hooks. As he sensed over the scene, Daredevil discovered that only one person was still being alive, clinging to life despite being injured horrifically and left to die on the hook. Daredevil carefully took the man off the meat hook and then asked what had happened. As the tried to stay alive while slowly bleeding to death from his injuries, the gang member eventually revealed that it was not a whole army targeting the gangs, but only one man.[17]

Finding the Punisher

Daredevil located the culprit who was about to kill Grotto with a sniper rifle outside Metro-General Hospital. The two engaged in a brutal fight where Daredevil found himself suprised by the man's brutal savagery and strength. Daredevil eventually seemed to finally gain the upper hand, only for the shooter to take out a pistol and shoot Daredevil in the head, knocking him off the building.[17]

The gunshot knocked Murdock unconscious, but did not penetrate his helmet, which was damaged. Murdock remained unconscious until the following morning, when Foggy Nelson found him. Nelson managed to get back to Murdock's home without being noticed. Nelson once again expressed anger and exasperation at Murdock's vigilanteism, but Murdock made it clear that he did not trust the New York City Police Department to handle the shooter. Although he was suffering from a headache and clearly still recovering from the gunshot wound, Murdock wanted to join Nelson and Karen Page at the 15th Precinct to help get a witness protection agreement for Grotto. However, Nelson insisted that Murdock stay home and recover, and asked him to trust him to do his job.

Murdock suffers a horrific headache attack

Some time later, Murdock attempted to get a glass of water from his sink when his hearing became distorted. Sounds were so loud that they were painful. The sound of an aspirin hitting the tabletop disturbed him so much that he dropped his glass of water. To his shock, he realized that the glass made no sound when it shattered on the floor. He panicked, realizing that he now could no longer hear nor see. After some time, he meditated, and his hearing returned in time for him to hear someone knocking at the door.

He opened the door to let in Karen Page, who was still shaky after fleeing the shooter the night before. Seeing the broken glass on the floor, she assumed that Murdock had been drinking. When she questioned him about his injuries, he jokingly reminded her that he was blind. She sarcastically replied that she was not an idiot. Backing off, she told him that she would be there for him whenever he felt comfortable telling her what is going on.

She then changed the subject, filling him in about Grotto's case, including the fact that Reyes personally met them at the Precinct. She also told him that the shooter was being called "The Punisher" and mused if the people of the city had helped create him by cheering on Daredevil. Murdock quickly pointed out that Daredevil had never killed anyone, but she replied that they simply never heard about him killing anyone. Before leaving, she told Murdock that she and Nelson cared about him and that he was worth keeping around.

As soon as Page left, Murdock brought the damaged helmet to Melvin Potter in his workshop and asked him if he could repair it. Potter was not optimistic, saying that it would be best if he could construct an entire new helmet, as the damage was severe. Murdock convinced him to repair the damaged helmet as best he could so he could go after The Punisher as soon as possible, and then create a new one later.

Wearing a black hoodie, Murdock clandestinely inspected the Burren Club where the Kitchen Irish had been massacred. Outside the club, he found a dog's chain and picked up the scent of the dog, who had been injured. He was able to track the dog's movements until he came across a stretch of pavement that was being washed, eliminating the scent. Standing on the street, he picked up the sound of a police radio, and traced the sound back to a small apartment, where a chained dog began barking at him. Murdock calmed the dog with a handful of nearby dog food and listened to the police radio. He overheard plans to draw out The Punisher using Grotto as bait.[18]

Round Two with Punisher

Murdock returned to Melvin Potter's Workshop and donned his newly repaired helmet and suit. He went to the location where the New York City Police Department had set their trap for The Punisher. However, Punisher discovered the trap and atempted to kill several Dogs of Hell members so as to distract the Police Department, he then aim at Grotto in order to kill him. Fortuately, Daredevil found him on the nearby roof and attacked him; the two brawled while the police shot at The Punisher. After a lenghty fight between the two combatants, they crashed through a skylight into the building below. Arising, Daredevil's hearing began to fail him again and he became disoriented. The Punisher used this to his advantage, knocking Daredevil unconscious.[18]

Debating with Punisher

"I'm guessing you've done this, what ten, maybe 20 times? How long's it been? Six months, a year or your whole life? Something tells me you don't take breaks. You know, no one else has to die. You could stop now. Walk away.""Walk away? Could you do that? Could you walk away?"

Daredevil awoke from a dream in which a nun was tending to him while he was a boy. Upon awakening, he discovered that he was chained to a chimney on a rooftop. As he struggled against the chains and tried to free himself, Punisher wished him a good morning. When Daredevil asked him why he didn't remove his mask, he responded that he didn't care about his identity. Daredevil deduced that the man was a soldier and tried to get him to reveal information about himself, asking if he was a Catholic and if he was from New York City but the man warned him not to dig.

Daredevil heard someone approaching the roof from inside the building, and asked The Punisher not to hurt him. The Punisher warned Daredevil that if he called attention to himself again, the person approaching the roof was going to get hurt. Daredevil overheard the Punisher speaking to an older man, introducing himself as Frank. The old man and Frank bonded over being veterans in the United States Armed Forces, with Frank revealing he had served as a marine in both Iraq and Afghanistan, while the older man served in Vietnam War years earlier.

Daredevil rattles chains, getting Jerry's attention

During the conversation, Daredevil strained against his chains, attracting the veteran's attention, but Frank simply told the old man the noise was a rat and pressed a gun to the door leading inside the building in a way that the old man couldn't see it. Satisfied that Frank was just on the roof to have a smoke, the old man left and returned to his apartment, sharing one last joke with Frank as he walked away. Alone with the man who called himself Frank, Daredevil accused him of threatening an innocent man, but Frank replied that the gun was for Daredevil's benefit.

The two began to argue about their differing methods of justice. Daredevil argued that all human beings had a spark of goodness in them, and that there was always hope they would find redemption and change their ways to become better people, while Frank argued that the criminals Daredevil put away always got out of prison again, and continued to hurt innocents, therefore Daredevil's methods were worthless. Frank claimed that the only way to stop the cycle was to kill them. Daredevil then told Frank that he would never stop coming after him, because he was insane and needed to be stopped, so Frank knocked Daredevil unconscious by hitting him with his gun.[19]

A Fatal Test

Daredevil finds a gun taped to his hand

"You don't do it, his death's on you. Either way, you're a killer.""What kind of choice is that?""The kind I make every time I pull the trigger."

When Daredevil regained consciousness, he was horrified to find that the Punisher had duct taped a gun to his hand. Frank informed him that there was only one round in the chamber, and that he was wearing body armor, so the only way to stop him was to shoot him in the head. Frank then dragged Grotto into Daredevil's view, explaining that he was going to kill him, and the only way Daredevil could stop him was to shoot Frank.

Frank coerced Grotto into telling Daredevil that he had performed hits for the Kitchen Irish mob while he was working for their leader Nesbitt, while being beaten, Grotto finally admitted to killing an old woman who had witnessed one of the hits. Despite hearing all this, Daredevil refused to shoot Grotto. Frank said that he would do it himself, and the only way for Daredevil to stop that from happening would be for him to shoot Frank. Murdock, however, found another way - he used the one bullet in the gun to shoot through his chains and free himself.

Daredevil fights and subdues the Punisher

Now free, Daredevil charged forward and attacked Frank, but was unable to stop him from fatally shooting Grotto. As Daredevil tried to comfort the dying Grotto, Frank took aim at motorcycles parked outside the Dogs of Hell headquarters. With Grotto now dead having bled out from his fatal wound, Daredevil launched himself at Frank, but Frank was still able to take the shot, causing a large explosion, alerting Jimmy the Bear and his men. Daredevil fought and eventually subdued Frank, taking him inside the building and placing him in a freight elevator to make their escape quickly.[19]

Fighting the Dogs of Hell

Just as Daredevil was about to leave the building in the elevator with the still unconscious Punisher, bikers from the Dogs of Hell arrived led by their leader Jimmy the Bear, angry at the destruction of their bikes. The old man from the rooftop emerged from his apartment. Daredevil, knowing the man was in danger, left Frank inside the elevator and grabbed Jimmy, threatening him with the empty gun. Once the man was safe, Daredevil pulled the trigger and chuckled before beginning the fight.

This began a long, protracted fight between Daredevil and the Dogs of Hell, in which Murdock used his superior fighting skills along with the chain he was still trailing to defeat them, smashing out the ceiling lights to force the bikers to fight in the darkness where he had the clear advantage over them as Daredevil did not require light to see. Going down the stairway, Daredevil fought seemingly endless waves of the bikers, but kept using his chain as a long range weapon while he fought hand to hand while always ensuring that he never fatally wounded anybody during his brutal takedowns of the bikers.

Daredevil is strangled by a final biker

Despite the seemingly endless wave of Dogs of Hell fighters attacking him with whatever weapons they had in their hands, Daredevil eventually made it down the stairs having knocked out almost all of his attackers. As he entered the ground floor lobby, Daredevil discovered only three bikers remained, keeping him from freedom. As he was so exhausted, Daredevil was unable to dodge one punch to the head which dazed him and allowed his enemies to gang up and beat him repeatedly in the chest and head, but he quickly recovered and knocked out all but one of the bikers remaining.

In the end, one final biker remained, the largest of the group, who used his strength to throw Daredevil across the long hallway and attempted to strange him to death and even came close to breaking the exhausted Daredevil's back, but he was able to free himself and knocked him out by slamming his head repeatedly against the hard concrete floor before performing a flip and landing one final hard kick against his skull. However, once he returned to the freight elevator, he noticed that Frank had escaped into New York City during the chaos of the fight without Daredevil noticing.[19]

Grotto's Funeral

Back at his apartment, Murdock put on his suit and got ready for the funeral for Grotto. He was visited by Karen Page who helped him with his tie and asked if he was better after taking days off sick, while he had actually been out as Daredevil. They flirted with each other and Page revealed that she had a brother who she had never mentioned before. Once he was ready, Murdock and Page left for the funeral.

Meeting Foggy Nelson, the group went to Saint Patrick's Cathedral and listened as Father Lantom explained that was Grotto was a deeply flawed person who had made many mistakes throughout his life while working for the Kitchen Irish. Lantom also revealed however that Grotto had spent his every Sunday coming to the Cathedral and praying while on his own before handing over all of his money, and once a rolex watch, into the donation plate in the hopes of finding redemption for his many sins, despite knowing redemption would never come for him, with Lantom pointing out that there was nobody to mourn his death but the three of them who sat alone.

As they left, Murdock noted that Grotto had not in fact died alone, with Nelson adding that he was surrounded by the Dogs of Hell. Murdock let everybody leave while he spoke alone with Lantom, complimenting him on his service. Murdock insisted that Grotto's death was not his fault, explaining about the Punisher's violent actions and asked for forgiveness for not saving him, asking why he felt such guilt for failing Grotto. Lantom explained however that guilt could be a good thing as it could bring him to action, noting that while he likely could not have done more, the guilt meant his work was not finished.

Back at Nelson and Murdock Law Office, Murdock and Nelson listened as Page explained that she had found evidence that Frank Castle had been shot in the head during the Massacre at Central Park and that Samantha Reyes had this evidence that Blake Tower had given to Page, explaining that they should try and find Castle. As Nelson left to answer the phone, Page then asked Murdock if she was insane while Murdock was distracted considering this new information before Murdock asked her if she really cared about what happened to Castle.

Murdock and Page share a moment

Murdock teased Page, claiming that she was insane before laughing and noting that he loved her compassion which he told her was a great quality to have. However Murdock was pulled away by Nelson who reminded him that Nelson and Murdock still had clients they had to deal with, noting DiPesta was being sued by his landlord for damaging an elevator and advised that they take the case. When they called out to Page they discovered she had left and taken the Punisher files, Murdock left to look for her while Nelson told him to find Castle first.[20]

Hunting the Punisher

"Was this the Punisher?""Jesus, the Irish okay, to find the Punisher. They put a bounty on his head now all over the Kitchen people are getting hurt. It's the goddamn Wild West out there.""Have the Irish found him?"

Donning his Daredevil's Suit, Murdock traveled to Melvin Potter's Workshop and requested his new helmet, which Melvin Potter noted was basically indestructible and would easily withstand a bullet to the head. Potter noted that he had been getting requests from criminals for new body armor ever since the Punisher had begun his massacres, which he had refused to provide as he was only protecting Betsy Beatty, Daredevil and himself from now onwards.

Daredevil traveled to the Burren Club where he caught the attention of Officer Brett Mahoney who was gathering evidence from the massacre. Daredevil questioned what had happened there, but Mahoney refused to help, noting that although he had helped them catch Wilson Fisk they were not allies, although he eventually admitted that it involved the Kitchen Irish. Mahoney then accused Daredevil of causing them problems with the police's respect in New York City before getting a call about a shootout in Central Park, so Daredevil quietly left the club to investigate on his own.

Daredevil traveled to Central Park where he found several members of the Kitchen Irish had been shot and killed during a violent clash, with the exception of Rory, who was now attempting to cruel away despite several bullet wounds in his gut. Rory attempted to shoot Daredevil, however he missed his shot and had his arm twisted the wrong way as Daredevil demanded to know what had happened. As he was in agony and slowly bleeding out due to his wounds, Rory finally revealed that Finn Cooley had taken found and kidnapped the Punisher and, upon hearing police cars coming his way, eventually gave up where Cooley and his men had taken the Punisher.[20]

Saving the Punisher

Travelling to the Kitchen Irish's hideout, Daredevil ambushed several of the thugs sent by Finn Cooley. Using the darkness and his own speed to his advantage, Daredevil knocked out one guard and used the moment of confusion to take out the second. When more thugs were called to investigate, Daredevil attacked and easily subdued them all using his body armor and billy club before continuing his search.

Daredevil soon found Frank Castle engaged in a shoot out with the Irish having killed Cooley and survived being tortured by Cooley's Irish mobsters. Daredevil saved Castle and promised that the Irish would pay for everything that they had done, although he insisted that they not kill anyone there. As they fought more thugs, Daredevil constantly had to ensure that Castle did not use any weapons to kill the Irish, knocking a gun and a hammer out of his hands, with Castle insulting him for this. Once all the thugs were defeated and knocked unconscious, Daredevil then helped the exhausted Castle to his feet and they escaped into New York City from the hideout.

They soon made it to Saint Michael's Cemetery, however Castle found himself unable to keep walking due to his many injuries and sat down by a grave. Although Castle insisted he was dying, Daredevil stayed by his side and listened as Castle explained his time with the United States Armed Forces and his incredible joy at finally being reunited with his beloved family upon returning to New York City. However Castle also explained the emotional agony he had felt on the day that his family were brutally murdered at the hands of criminals during a gunfight.

Eventually members of the New York City Police Department arrived to arrest Castle, with Officer Brett Mahoney aiming his gun at Daredevil while his partner put Castle in handcuffs. As he was being arrested, Daredevil recommended to Mahoney that he take the credit for Castle's capture in order to give the people of New York faith in the police department again. Mahoney reluctantly accepted this idea as his best move and let Daredevil go free, with Daredevil later watching from a safe distance as Castle was loaded into an ambulance to recover from his wounds in hospital.[20]

Night with Karen Page

Murdock joined Foggy Nelson and Karen Page for a drink at Josie's Bar as they watched a news report on the capture of the Punisher, celebrating the fact that Officer Brett Mahoney was getting all of the credit for the arrest. Page noted that now Castle was in custody, Samantha Reyes would find it easy to use him for her gain. Nelson went to get more drinks to distract them while Murdock and Page discussed her brother.

As they left Josie's Bar, Nelson teased Murdock that if he continued with Page then he might end up actually being happy which he joked would be terrible for someone Catholic like him. While Nelson left to get a taxi, Murdock offered to walk Page home in the rain. Once the rain died down, Murdock stopped and used his finger to gently wipe away a single drop of water from Page's arm. The pair then kissed each other before Murdock offered to take Page to dinner the next day. She eagerly agreed before Murdock wished her good night and let her catch a taxi while he then walked home.[20]

Elektra's Return

The Surprise Visit

Once Murdock stepped into his apartment, he got himself a drink and smiled thinking about his kiss with Karen Page. However just as he relaxed, Murdock heard a noise which alerted him that somebody else was there. Drawing a knife, Murdock realized the other person was Elektra, who greeted him with an amused smile.[20]

Murdock refuses Elektra's offer

Murdock scolded her, asking her what she was doing in his apartment. At first, she stated that she missed him. She apologized for leaving him all those years ago, but told him she was in New York to be at a meeting. She revealed that her late father invested a lot of money in the Roxxon Oil Corporation and requested that Murdock represent her for an upcoming meeting with the board of directors. Murdock mocked her and refused the offer, even when she went as far as to pay him. He, then, ordered her to leave.

The next day, Murdock went to his office and Nelson offered him a piece of peach pie, calling it their last payment. Murdock apologized, blaming himself for the firm doing poorly and being too distracted as Daredevil. Nelson stated that he was just glad to be safe and was relieved that Castle was behind bars. When Page arrived, she began to talk about The Punisher. She showed them newspaper articles which did not report on Castle's military service nor the tragic death of his family. Murdock asked how she knew all this, and she confessed that she broke into Castle's house, much to Murdock and Nelson's disapproval.

Murdock confirms the dinner date with Page

After Nelson suggested forgetting about Castle and finding actual clients, Page apologized to Murdock about not letting go of the Punisher case and Murdock reassured her that he just wanted her safe. Page began to talk about the night after Josie's Bar, but Murdock joked that he didn't remember anything happening. He confirmed that they were still on for a dinner date, later. Then, Nelson came out of his office, informing them that they received a huge deposit in their account. Murdock knew it was from Elektra, but stated that it was from a potential client, then he left.[6]

Suspecting Elektra

Murdock arrives at the Yakatomi Building

Murdock went to the Yakatomi Building as Elektra entered and met with the Roxxon Oil Corporation's board of Directors. He snuck up on the rooftops and began to listen. However, he was unaware that Elektra saw him during her meeting.

While Elektra talked to the board, she pulled out a pen, placing it on the table. Murdock, however, heard a low sound emanating from it. Suddenly, the phones began to ring and a few members of Roxxon claimed that the servers were hacked. As the members began to reschedule their meeting with Elektra, Murdock left.

Murdock and Page start their first date

Later, Murdock joined Page at a restaurant for their date. He was trying to decide what kind of wine to get and and tried to ask how her day went. When Page had to excuse herself from the table, the waiter approached him stating that he had a phone call. When he picked up, he found out it was Elektra, revealing that she knew he was at the Yakatomi Building. She told him that he was fired; she then hung up.

Murdock takes Page to a different restaurant

Later, Page returned, wondering why Murdock had left their table, but he claimed that he didn't like the restaurant. They went to a more low-budget Indian restaurant instead, toasting to "the cheap stuff". They started talking about what they loved about New York. Then, Murdock and Page walked to her home, where they began to kiss. She invited him inside, but he declined the offer, telling her that he wanted to keep the night perfect. They said goodnight and Murdock left.

Murdock questions Elektra's intentions in the past

Later in the evening, Murdock went to Elektra's penthouse, wondering why she took him to Sweeney's house when they were in college. She stated that she saw inside of him a "glorious darkness" and she wanted to see if he could kill Sweeney.

Murdock finds out that Elektra manipulated him

Then, Murdock heard someone's footsteps, Elektra stated that it was the Yakuza as she went into another room and changed clothes. Murdock realized that she tricked him into fighting with her, telling her that she didn't know him. In response she opened a bag which contained his Daredevil's Suit inside. Elektra then pulled up her cowl, getting ready to fight.[6]

Daredevil attacks the Yakuza by surprise

Murdock suited up, then hid. Later, the assassins broke in, looking for Elektra. Later, Daredevil and Elektra revealed themselves and then began to fight. After a long battle, they easily knocked out all the supposed Yakuza soldiers. As Elektra caught her breath, she pulled down her cowl and asked if Murdock was hungry, but Murdock was still furious.

Murdock questions Elektra at a diner

The next morning, Murdock and Elektra began to eat at a diner. He demanded to know why the Yakuza was after her and she told him that she hacked into Roxxon's servers, and they had connections to the Yakuza organization. She stated that even though he took down Fisk, the Yakuza merely hid and bid their time. He then asked her how she knew he was Daredevil. She answered that she recognized his ass on the news, even with the costume on.

Murdock tells Elektra that he has no feelings for her

Elektra asked Murdock to help her figure out the connection between the Yakuza and the Roxxon Oil Corporation. He reluctantly agreed to help, on the condition that she not kill anyone and that she leave New York as soon as they were finished. He then told Elektra that he was dating someone else, and had no desire to rekindle their past relationship.[21]

Representing the Punisher

Murdock arrived the office late, in time to hear Castle's public defender, Christopher Roth, explain to Nelson and Page that Reyes was trying to extradite Castle into Delaware, a state which had the death sentence. After that, Roth left the office, leaving Page and Murdock trying to convince Nelson to take on Castle as their client.

Furiously, Page informed both Nelson and Murdock how frustrated she was with how Reyes was handling Castle's case. Murdock told Nelson that they didn't have to defend his actions, but merely negotiate a plea bargain that took extradition off the table. Nelson refused. When Page left so that Nelson and Murdock could talk in private, Nelson made it known that he was surprised that Murdock would want to help Castle after he held him hostage. Murdock told Nelson that he felt his actions were not worth the death penalty. Reluctantly, Nelson finally agreed, telling Page to pack her things as the three left to meet Castle in the hospital.

When they entered Metro-General Hospital, they found the entire place filled with security guards and police. Having shown their IDs, they were allowed to pass through. Brett Mahoney, now appointed as Detective Sergeant for his actions, informed them that Castle already got a lawyer and was against them from speaking to Castle, knowing it would be against Reyes' wishes. Murdock, Page and Nelson convinced him that they had a right to interview a prospective client, and he sent them in to Castle's room. When they entered, Mahoney warned them to not cross the tape that surrounded his bed.

Murdock asks Castle to let them represent him

Murdock was the first to confront Castle, introducing himself, but Castle stated that he knew who they were, and criticized how they defended scumbags that deserved to die. Murdock talked to Castle about possibly negotiating a plea, but Castle rejected his offer. Then, Page, ignoring Mahoney's rule about the tape, stormed towards Castle and showed him the photo of his family, telling him that if he got the death penalty, then he would be unable to find answers to his family's murder.

Murdock confronts Reyes about taking Castle as his client

Then, Reyes arrived in Castle's room, angry that Nelson and Murdock were talking to Castle without Roth, accusing them of a breaching of ethics. However, Murdock chimed in, stating that they had a right to find potential clients. Reyes found it odd, noting that they represented Grotto before, causing a conflict of interest. Then, Mahoney came out of Castle's room and delivered the news that that Castle had asked to have Nelson and Murdock represent him in court.

The three entered an empty room and began to strategize the case, feeling the need to use all their files on Castle, until a chauffeur arrived, asking for Murdock. Murdock knew that the chauffeur had been sent by Elektra, but told Nelson and Page that he had scheduled a meeting with a wealthy client and, with that, he left.[21]

Spying on the Yakuza

Murdock entered a car with Elektra, who presented him with a tuxedo, much to his annoyance. As he put on the tuxedo, she revealed that they were heading to a gala being held by the Roxxon Oil Corporation in order to steal a key card from a man named Stan Gibson and enter a secret room that should contain a ledger that describes the Yakuza's activities with Roxxon.

As they entered the gala, Murdock took note that Elektra was turning many heads and raising many heartbeats. They were met by a mysterious man named Hirochi, who greeted them both. They finally located Gibson, but when Elektra was about to steal the key, Murdock stopped her, noting that Gibson was being watched.

Instead, Murdock spilled red wine on Gibson's white suit, which caused Gibson to be angry. Gibson calmed down when he saw that Murdock was blind. He walked to the men's room to clean up. Murdock followed him, attacking both Gibson and his bodyguards, knocking them out and stealing his key card. He went back to Elektra and they both went to the thirteenth floor.

Murdock and Elektra find the ledger in a secret room

Murdock and Elektra went past security and got to the secure room. Murdock used his enhanced senses to crack a safe, however, the ledger was not inside. Then, Murdock used his senses to locate a secret room and Elektra found a way to open it. Finally they found the ledger. However, the building went on lockdown. As they left, they fought the security that got in their way.

Murdock and Elektra find the ledger coded

Once they hit a room on the 11th floor, they pretended to be a couple looking for private room. The security guards saw that Murdock was blind and allowed the both of them to leave. Murdock and Elektra got back into the car and began to read the ledger. However, Elektra became confused, stating that part of the ledger was written in code, making it impossible to read. Murdock, being glad that it was over, left the vehicle and went to his apartment.[21]

The People vs The Punisher

As Murdock settled in, Nelson stopped by, annoyed that he missed his calls. He informed Murdock that Castle had plead not guilty, with Reyes requesting a fast track for the trial. Murdock thought it best if they filed for an extension, however, Nelson told him that Castle agreed to the fast tracked trial. With that, Nelson told Murdock to clear his calendar, because the trial of the People versus Frank Castle would begin the following week.[21]

Back at the office, Murdock strategized with Page and Nelson about Castle's defense. Nelson believed the best way to go about the case was to plea that Castle had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, causing him to commit the crimes. Murdock stated that as long as Castle agreed, he would make an opening statement based on PTSD. Page decided to visit Castle to see if he would agree.

Later, in his office, Murdock started practicing his opening statement, but then he received a call from Elektra. She informed Murdock that she found out who decrypted the ledger of the Yakuza, but he informed her that he was too busy with the trial on Castle. Then, Nelson came into his office and asked Murdock to look up witnesses from the Dogs of Hell. Murdock informed him that he would as soon as he was done with his call. After that, he reluctantly agreed to help Elektra.[22]

Reconnecting with Elektra

Daredevil and Elektra entered the apartment of Philip Cabroni, who was dealing with two Korean prostitutes. After they left his room, Elektra and Daredevil revealed themselves, shocking Cabroni. They demanded that he decipher the codes in the Yakuza ledger, which, after a few threats, he agreed to. He revealed that the ledger detailed a list of shipments coming into Hell's Kitchen. One in particular was arriving later in the evening. Daredevil threatened Cabroni, telling him to end his dealings with the Yakuza, and Elektra mocked his decorator, then knocked him out. After that, they left.

Daredevil and Elektra arrived at a railroad station, where they found the railcar that Cabroni mentioned in the ledger. They opened the door and dirt rushed out of it, confusing the both of them. Then, the Yakuza attacked them both.

Daredevil fights off the Yakuza

Daredevil and Elektra fought together in a warehouse, but they eventually split up. Daredevil and Elektra both managed to fight off the Yakuza easily and eventually, they found each other. Once they finished of the Yakuza, Daredevil saw that Elektra was injured and took her to get stitched.

Murdock stitches up Elektra's wound

They went to Matt Murdock's Apartment, where he stitched up Elektra's neck. Elektra, looking at Murdock's scars, asked him people said about them, considering that he has seen a bunch of women. He joked that the women would be too busy enjoying themselves.

Murdock and Elektra compare their scars

As they began to show each other their scars, he pointed out one given to him by a man named Nobu. Elektra pointed out that his name was Nobu Yoshioka. Murdock asked Elektra what happened to her the night after they went to Roscoe Sweeney's house, she stated that she went as far away from him as possible, stating that he deserved better. They both, then, went to sleep in the living room.[22]

Testing Friendships

The next morning, Murdock started to panic, noting that he overslept and had to be at Castle's case. As he was getting dressed, Elektra told him that she would figure out why the rail car was full of dirt, wishing him good luck in court as he left. Murdock finally arrived at the court, just in time to hear the middle of Nelson's opening statement.

Murdock caught up with Nelson and Page in the hallway and apologized to both of them. They were both frustrated that he was so late, but he complimented Nelson on his opening statement. To make it up to them both, he agreed to question Dr. Tepper about the autopsy the next day. Nelson reluctantly agreed to this. Murdock requested that Page get him caught up on everything he's missed in court, later that night.

Murdock and Page go over the Tepper files

Later that evening, Murdock and Page went to his apartment, looking through the autopsy files from Tepper, trying to figure out a way to get Tepper to confess that the reports were false. While they did that, they began to talk about the first time they met, talking about Page being saved by Daredevil that one night. However, she began to connect Daredevil's vigilante activity to the actions of Castle's. Then, Page confessed that she felt that Castle was doing the right thing, causing silence between the both of them. Murdock decided to end the session and promised Page a real date, as she left.

Murdock went upstairs, where Elektra was, and scolded her for eavesdropping on their conversation. He told her how much Page and his job meant to him. She explained that she complied a list of construction sites in Hell's Kitchen that could account for the mysterious rail car full of dirt. Murdock remembered one of the sites as the one which Yoshioka had blueprints for. He assumed that Yoshioka used that site for Fisk's personal use, but now realized that Yoshioka might have an alternative motive. However, Murdock told Elektra that he had to be in court for the Castle trial the following morning, then she left.

Later, during the court case, Dr. Gregory Tepper was questioned about the autopsies of the victims that Castle killed. During cross-examination, Murdock asked him how many autopsies he has filled out in the past. Tepper, then, asked if he could make a statement about something he did in the past. Judge Batzer asked the jury and spectators to clear the room.

Once all was clear, Tepper confessed that the autopsy of Castle's family and the John Doe were false. He revealed that he was coerced into falsifying the reports. He then revealed that the previous night, a woman with a foreign accent and a mask threatened to kill him if he didn't tell them the truth, which shocked Murdock. The prosecution and the defense accused one another for threatening the witness. With that, the judge ordered Tepper's testimony stricken from the record.

Murdock followed Nelson into the bathroom. Nelson was angry, filled with disbelief that Reyes would threaten a witness like that. Murdock confessed that it wasn't Reyes and that Elektra was the culprit. Nelson didn't understand, who remembered Elektra as a debutante. Murdock told Nelson that she came back to Hell's Kitchen and had become dangerous.

Murdock argues with Nelson

Murdock, then, confessed that he and Elektra were spying on the Yakuza and trying to figure out why they were back, confessing that she was the wealthy client that he was talking about and that she was the one who deposited money into their account. Before he could tell Nelson more about what was going on, Nelson lashed out angrily at Murdock, pointing out that he has lied to him again. He angrily claimed that he would no longer trust him, telling Murdock to tell Page about Elektra, and left.

Page questions Murdock about all the shouting

Page, curious about the yelling, asked Nelson what was going on. He ignored her and then she asked Murdock, but he told her that he has to leave. However, he promised to talk to her the next day, although she muttered under her breath that she doubted it.[22]

Stick Returns

Daredevil furiously confronts Elektra

Daredevil met Elektra outside of the Midland Circle construction site and let her know that she ruined Castle's case by threatening Tepper. She responded that she was following his own rules: you don't get what you want by day, you take it by force at night. Furious, he warned her to stay out of his normal life and, stating that the Matt Murdock life was boring, she agreed. Daredevil fought guards at the entry site, then she arrived after the battle, sarcastically remarking that he didn't want her help.

They went inside the construction site, where he confirmed that they were alone. However, he was shocked to find a large hole. He took her flashlight and dropped it down the hole. After a long pause, she asked if it had hit the bottom. When he responded that it hadn't, she asked him to tell her when it did. [22]

After another long pause, Daredevil heard the flashlight hit the bottom and told this to Elektra. They were then ambushed by mysterious ninjas. Daredevil tried to find them, but discovered that he couldn't, because they were somehow hiding their heartbeats. Elektra warned Daredevil that they were using swords, and he found he could track the sounds of their weapons.

The two of them fought off the ninjas and during the battle, Elektra was badly injured. Before one of the ninjas could attack, they were saved by Stick, who finished off the others, telling Murdock that they should get out.
They got in a car driven by a man named Quinn. They were followed and attacked by the ninjas, with Stick using a crossbow to take them out. Murdock claimed that he could sense Elektra dying. Stick ordered Quinn to drive them to Murdock's apartment.[23]

Learning of The Hand

"When you were hurt, when I thought I might lose you, I felt hollow. Now, I have no reason to trust you. You've lied to me more times than I can count. But if you leave Stick be with me. Fight this war by my side. My way. Our way."

When they finally arrived, Stick asked for a few items to use to heal Elektra. Murdock does as he is is instructed, gathering the items and praying for Elektra to heal, as Stick combines the items. Finally, Murdock begins to hear a heartbeat from Elektra, relieved by her speedy recovery.

Later, in the living room, Murdock and Stick discussed Elektra as she is recovering in the bedroom. Stick casually mentioned that he's known her to recover from worse things. This surprised Murdock, and he demanded that Stick explain how he knew her.

Stick talked about an organization of ninja warriors called the Hand, whom he described as an ancient evil. He explained that they were plotting their evil work in New York City. Then, he described their enemy organization called the Chaste, of which Stick and Elektra were both members. Murdock, annoyed, was ashamed that Stick would bring up a ridiculous fairy tale. Stick told him that this was all really happening, warning that the Hand would bring chaos to New York.

Late, Murdock checked on Elektra while she recovered in bed, and she confirmed everything that Stick had said. When he asked her if the two of them meeting was planned by Stick, she admitted it was. Although, she said regardless of her orders, she really did fall in love with Murdock. Murdock admitted that he feared losing her while she was dying, and suggested she leave Stick and fight the Hand with him instead.

Then, Murdock realized that someone came into his apartment, and Stick came in and told him that he had a visitor. Page came in and was shocked to see Elektra in Murdock's bed. Murdock told Page that he could explain everything, but she became distant from him as she told Murdock that Nelson needed his help for the Castle case. Although Murdock suggested they go somewhere to talk, she left quickly, with Stick sardonically calling after her that it was nice to meet her.[23]

Murdock Discusses Heroes

"This cities been sick and the cops, they can't fix it alone, they need, we all need men and women who are willing to take the fight themselves, the kind of people who risk their lives so we can walk safe at night in our own neighbourhoods, the ones our esteemed district attorney here is trying so hard to destroy. New York needs these people, we need heroes."

Murdock went to the courtroom as Karen Page had requested. He tried speaking to Page, but she ignored him. He spoke to Foggy Nelson, who, still angry and demanded that Murdock get Frank Castle to retell his story. Castle came to the stand and Murdock heard a guard whisper to him, asking him to think about what he wanted. Murdock tried to get Castle to describe the day his family was killed, but Castle did not respond. Murdock asked Cynthia Batzer for permission to treat Castle as hostile.

Murdock discusses heroes with the jury

Murdock claimed that Castle was just the kind of man his city needed in the wake of Wilson Fisk and then went to the jury and told them about heroes and how New York City needed more men and woman like Castle who were willing to find justice themselves; describing how Castle took it too far by murdering the crooks, noting that Samantha Reyes was trying to stop heroes from taking action. He argued that Castle needed help and not punishment. Despite that, Castle asked to speak and told everyone that he knew what he did and was glad, embracing his title as the Punisher as he was dragged away.

Outside the courtroom, Murdock claimed that someone influenced Castle, but both Page and Nelson ignored Murdock. Nelson angrily exclaimed that he was glad that they lost the case, and Page told Murdock that while she agreed with Murdock about heroes, he was not one of them. She told him she was done with him before storming off.[23]

Choosing Elektra

Murdock returned to his apartment, noticing that Stick had left, but was relieved to find Elektra Elektra in bed, and that she had decided to fight the Hand by his side. She guessed correctly that he lost the case and Page, but he told Elektra that he was glad he did not lose her, making his decision to spend his life with her. As Murdock left to give Elektra some rest, he was attacked by a Hand ninja.

The fight was long and Murdock was, later, hit by a poisoned arrow. Murdock was able to subdue and confront the ninja. He took off his hood and realized that he was young, hearing his heartbeat. Elektra came behind the ninja and slit his throat with a kitchen knife, much to Murdock's horror. He shuddered as Elektra told him that this was who she was, asking if he still wanted her. Murdock began to shake from the poison, and Elektra embraced him as she prepares to save him.[23]

A Change of Heart

Murdock recovers from his wounds

Later, Elektra tended to Murdock's wounds. When Murdock recovered, he looked around and found no evidence of the fight from the previous night. He asked Elektra what she did to the boy's corpse Elektra responded that she took care of everything, implying that she disposed of the body.

Murdock asks Elektra to leave

Murdock, still in shock from Elektra's kill, noted that her adrenaline spiked when she killed him, just like at Roscoe Sweeney's house those many years ago. She told Murdock about the first person she killed when she was 12, not for self defense, but through pure enjoyment. He told Elektra that there was a time when he was in love with her, but he would have no more of her killings. He demanded that she leave, stating that he would fight the Hand by himself. With that, she left.

Later that day, Nelson arrived to visit Murdock, taking note of his injuries. He thought it best that Nelson and Murdock shut down, to which Murdock reluctantly agreed. However, Nelson begged Murdock to quit being a hero, but Murdock told Nelson that he would no longer apologize for who he was and that he would resume the mantle of Daredevil. With that, Nelson left him.[24]

Fighting the Hand

The Return of Nobu

Later in the Yakatomi Building parking lot, Daredevil located Stan Gibson, taking out his bodyguards. Having knocked out and subdued his guards with ease, Daredevil revealed to Gibson that he found out that the Hand had infiltrated the Roxxon Oil Corporation and told Gibson to tell him what they are doing. Gibson revealed that the Hand was keeping his son, Daniel Gibson, hostage. Gibson revealed that the Hand had a heavily guarded facility that they called The Farm. Daredevil then demanded that the clearly terrified Gibson take him to that place.

Gibson took Daredevil to the Farm, leaving him outside. Daredevil knocked out the guards and found Hirochi. Daredevil could hear blood dripping in another room and he demanded Hirochi take him to the source.

Daredevil witnesses the Farm in horror

When Hirochi showed him the inner workings of the farm, Daredevil was horrified to find young kids caged like animals and being drained of their blood through a tube. The tubes went into a huge stone sarcophagus. Daredevil went to free the children and Hirochi escaped. Gibson entered the Farm and was horrified to see his son in one of the cages. Then, one of the ninjas ambushed Daredevil, letting him know that the draining wasn't complete, as he took out an all too familiar chain and knife.

Daredevil fought the ninja as long as he could, but the ninja became victorious. The ninja pushed the sarcophagus into an elevator; then, Daredevil figured out who the ninja was: Nobu Yoshioka. Daredevil was shocked, stating that he should be dead, however, Yoshioka took off his mask and replied that there was no such thing.[24]

Daredevil went outside of the building and called Mahoney. As soon as he arrived, he told him about the caged children and that they needed medical attention, warning him about the Hand trying to get them. Daredevil told him to take them to Metro-General Hospital and to put them under the care of Temple.

As soon as Mahoney took the kids to Metro General, Murdock met Temple in the hallway. He warned her that their blood was drained by a ninja named Nobu Yoshioka, who, somehow, came back to life after he burned to death. He warns her that she may be in trouble from the Hand ninjas, but promised to protect her and the hospital from them. Suddenly, using his enhanced hearing, Murdock listened to a police radio warning that Castle escaped from prison.[25]

Following Frank Castle's escape from Ryker's Island, Murdock was summoned to meet Samantha Reyes along with Karen Page and Foggy Nelson. Upon arriving at the courthouse, Murdock was soon greeted by Page who commented on the amount of security now present there, as Murdock apologised for ever getting Nelson and Murdock involved with the case in the first place. While Murdock attempted to make small talk with Page, she was called away for security reasons, leaving just standing Murdock alone outside.

They were taken through security and then entered Reyes' office. While they walked in they discussed Castle's escape from Ryker's with Murdock asking Page if he had said anything at all to her, but Page insisted he had not mentioned any escape plan. Nelson took note that Castle escaped Cell Block D. Murdock remembered this as the same cell block in which Wilson Fisk was incarcerated, noting that he liked to track of anyone who may want them dead. He then soberly told Page and Nelson that this was not a coincidence, telling them that he believed Fisk orchestrated Castle's escape.

As they sat down in Reyes' office, she and Blake Tower requested their help in locating Castle. Murdock told her that they would only help if she told them what happened between her and Castle. Reyes confessed that the Massacre at Central Park that killed Castle's family was a sting operation that went south. The District Attorney's office had been trying to convict a mysterious drug dealer known as the Blacksmith. Reyes and Tower explained that while they were tracking him they learned of a deal involving the Blacksmith, Dogs of Hell, Kitchen Irish and Mexican Cartel and decided to act.

Reyes then revealed that she chose to not clear the park of civilians to make it look less suspicious and risk the Blacksmith getting away, but it resulted in multiple civilian deaths, due to a shootout that broke out between the gangs, with victims including Castle's own wife and children. Then, Reyes showed them an X-ray of a skull that she took from her daughter's backpack, worried Castle had now chosen her own daughter as his next victim. She informed them that although her daughter was safe in a secret location in upstate New York, the Punisher must be found before he could harm anyone else.

While Reyes begged them to tell her if Castle ever contacted them, Murdock heard a gun being cocked from across the street, in an instant Murdock then demanded that everyone got down, covering Page with his own body as an unknown assassin began shooting at them. The bullets destroyed everything in sight, wounding Nelson in the arm. Once the bullets stopped hitting the room, everyone slowly raised to their feet. Although almost everyone had survived, they discovered that Reyes had been hit multiple times in the back and was killed, much to Tower's utter shock and horror.

As a result, the New York City Police Department and the FBI all then swarmed the courthouse, desperately searching for the Punisher who they blamed for the murder. Murdock, Nelson, Page and Tower left the courthouse; as Nelson was being treated by an Emergency Medical Technician, Murdock let him know that he would go after the Punisher and get to the bottom of all this, although Nelson was still skeptical that he would ever be able to find him. Murdock however insisted he knew where to start looking, before Nelson noted he may know where to start, but not how to ever stop.[25]

Kingpin's Threat

"I can break you without breaking a single law. You may have expensive lawyers, but with one envelope and $6 postage I can make sure Vanessa never sets foot on American soil again. One letter to the right office and I get her visa pulled. I can prove she was an accomplice to every one of your crimes."

Seeking answer directly from his chief suspect, Murdock visited Ryker's Island, where he was greeted by Benjamin Donovan who gave him a contract written in out Braille for Murdock's convenience, stating the terms of the meeting between him and Wilson Fisk. Donovan warned that if Murdock came into physical contact with Fisk or discussed their meeting with the media then he would be sued, Murdock signed the contract and was brought to Fisk.

Fisk noted how he and Murdock had met once before at the Scene Contempo Gallery before they went to court, but Murdock ignored this and commented on the shooting at the New York State Supreme Court Building which had killed Samantha Reyes. Murdock accused Fisk of setting up Frank Castle's escape, but Fisk told him that it never happened while Murdock argued that Fisk's seeming lack of motive kept the suspicion away from him and allowed him to unleash Castle upon New York City to cause chaos. Fisk decided that enough was enough and called over Donovan to end their meeting.

Instead of back down, Murdock threatened to make sure that Fisk's beloved fiancée, Vanessa Marianna, could never come back to New York City, for acting as his accomplice, ensuring Fisk would never see her again, apart from the odd trip to Morocco but he would never be able to live with her again. Upon hearing that, the now enraged Fisk released himself from his chains attacked Murdock, slamming him into the table. Defending himself, Murdock managed to punch Fisk's mouth, but the still furious Fisk kept ahold of his suit and remembered how Murdock was the son of a boxer.

Murdock leaves the Fisk meeting horrified

Murdock realized that Fisk had taken control of Ryker's Island and had indeed orchestrated the escape of the Punisher, which Fisk then confessed to but noted that nobody would back up Murdock's story. Fisk threatened to get revenge on Nelson and Murdock by destroying the lives and loved ones of Murdock and Foggy Nelson, as soon as he got out. Fisk threw Murdock back onto his seat and promised that his wrath would be worse than anything the Punisher was going to do to the city. Murdock was escorted out of the prison by Donovan, horrified and shaken from what just transpired.[25]

The Invasion of Metro-General

Murdock went to the rooftop of Metro-General Hospital. Claire Temple met up with him, wondering why he wasn't visiting Foggy Nelson. Murdock said that he sensed Nelson and that he was fine, blaming himself for getting Nelson shot in the arm. Temple updated Murdock about the patients, noting that a mysterious organic substance was coursing through their bloodstream, which led her to believe that the Hand were incubating a substance that was then drained.

Murdock, forlorn, told Temple that he felt everything he did got undone. He told her he was quitting the law and his friends. He let her know that he felt that they were a distraction and that he would put them in harm's way. Temple tried to make him change his mind, but he ignored her and still refused to visit Nelson. After she left, Hand ninjas began to scale the side of the hospital. Murdock heard this and put on his helmet.[25]

Daredevil fights the Hand in Metro-General

Just after the ninjas killed Louisa Delgado, Daredevil arrived, saving Temple and fighting the ninjas. The battle was long, as the ninjas tried to reclaim their victims. Temple tried her best to fight, but one of the ninjas knocked her out of a window. Daredevil jumped out and saved her, using one of the ropes from the Hand had used to scale the building. The Hand, unfortunately, escaped with Daniel Gibson and the others.

Murdock explains the Hand to Temple

Afterwards, Murdock got changed into his street clothes and explained to Temple about the Hand and what they wanted. Temple was against Murdock going after the Hand alone, saying this might be his downfall, but he he stated that he had it handled. Then, Brett Mahoney called Murdock, explaining that Karen Page was attacked and was at the 15th Precinct Police Station.[26]

Later in the evening, Daredevil confronted Blake Tower, who was trying to leave town. Daredevil demanded that Tower tell him all that he knows about the Blacksmith, but Tower revealed that he had very little information, except a code name. Tower then suggested that the one person who might know more would be the Blacksmith's rival: a drug dealer in Chinatown.

Daredevil infiltrates the dry cleaners

Daredevil infiltrated a dry cleaner that was serving as the drug lord's lair. He fought and knocked out the guards before going to the basement. There he found Madame Gao, who was busy painting. Daredevil warner her to call off her men or he would break their legs, and she she stated that once he was satisfied that they were alone, they would talk.

Daredevil arrived at the pier and stopped Castle from killing a man whom Castle thought was the Blacksmith. After that, the two began to fight. Castle was furious at Daredevil, blaming him for ruining his moment of peace. However, Daredevil warned him that killing the wrong man would mean his revenge would be false and that, on some level, he knew that.

Daredevil allows Punisher to do things his way

Again, Castle stated that Daredevil's way of justice didn't help end crime and killing the Blacksmith was the best solution. Daredevil admitted that his way wasn't working and suggested that just this once, they do things Castle's way. Castle then stated that once someone kills another person, they can never go back from what they did. Daredevil warned Castle about men he heard approaching. He told Castle they needed to get off the ship, and in response, Castle pushed Daredevil into the water. The men shot at the boat, which exploded from the gunpowder held below decks. Daredevil, later that evening, went back to dry land, hearing both Brett Mahoney and Karen Page arrive on the scene with the police.

Murdock went back into his apartment and heard a car screeching out of control. He walked outside, noticing a car crashed into the side of the street. He found out that the driver was one of Stick's soldiers of the Chaste, who informed Murdock that Elektra planned to kill Stick. [26]

The New Black Sky

Daredevil found Stick's hiding place, and before the fight between him and Elektra continued, Daredevil steps in and breaks it up. Then, Hand ninjas ambush the three, who fight Daredevil and Elektra, vanish and take Stick with them. Daredevil is confused, not being able to locate a trail, but still plans on saving Stick. Elektra chimed in that she will kill Stick, and threatens to kill him if he stands in her way. With that, she kissed him and left.

Later, Murdock entered his office, reading a Braille subway map. Foggy Nelson was inside, as well, packing his things from his office. Murdock told Nelson that he thinks the Hand are using subway tunnels to secretly move throughout Hell's Kitchen without being detected. Nelson had an idea, referring to his bootlegging grandfather during Prohibition, that it may be abandoned railway tunnels, encouraging Murdock to look through them. Nelson and Murdock pause in there office for the last time, feeling a sense of sadness and relief that Nelson and Murdock was over.

Later, Daredevil went inside the abandoned railway tunnel and, no sooner as he enters, is ambushed by Hand ninjas. He is easily able to fight them off, listening to the metal of their swords weapons, but the ninjas caught on and sheathed their weapons, while attacking him with their fists. Daredevil became helpless, Not being able to defend himself from the ninjas.

Then, suddenly, Daredevil heard the soft whispering voice of Stick, being tortured by Hirochi, instructing him to listen to the ninjas' exhalations. Daredevil does as instructed and, as a result, is able to knock out all of them. After that, he continued down the tunnel for Stick.

Daredevil rescues Stick from the Hand

Daredevil finally finds him and is attacked by Hand ninjas, who were guarding Hirochi. Hirochi thought he was safe, but Stick bites Hirochi on the neck. Daredevil freed him, then Stick told him how proud he is. However, Elektra arrived, wanting to kill Stick. Then, Nobu Yoshioka appeared, demanding that Stick tell them why they are all here.

Daredevil learns that Elektra is the Black Sky

Daredevil demanded that Yoshioka take him instead of Stick and Elektra, but Yoshioka states that he just wants Elektra, revealing that she is the Black Sky, the weapon of the Hand. Stick is aggravated that she found out about the truth, but Daredevil denies it as true, pleading with Elektra she must be the one to define herself. Yoshioka and the Hand knelt down and offers his sword to her; she accepts and demands Daredevil to leave.

Daredevil gives Elektra one final chance

She continued to recall how she fought her violence nature her entire life, but now as the Black Sky, she she can embrace it. Then, heartbroken, Daredevil tells her that it would mean killing him, for he is the Hand's enemy. She puts her sword to his neck, but she hesitates. He, then, grabbed Elektra's sword and held it up to her neck, giving her one last chance to fight off the Hand with him and Stick. He releases her and they both fight them off.

In the middle of the battle, Elektra stops fighting and grabs Stick so they can both escape. He states he still wants her dead, but he won't for Murdock's sake, revealing that Murdock was trying to save Elektra from a line that she'd never come back from. Daredevil, then, fought with Yoshioka for a while and then escapes with Elektra and Stick while the ninjas watched.
[27]

Nobu's Last Stand

Back at his apartment, Matt Murdock tied Stick to a chair, stating that he and Elektra will be the only ones fighting the Hand, stating that he still doesn't have a plan. Before Stick could make a snarky comment, Murdock taped his mouth. Then, he met Elektra on the rooftops. The both of them decided the best course of action was to expose Nobu as a fraud to his followers.

Then, he took Elektra to Melvin Potter, where he fitted her in special body armor. He, then, gave Daredevil a new billy club made of a special design. Murdock couldn't thank him enough, but Potter simply stated that he is glad that there are some people in Hell's Kitchen who is looking out for them.

He and Elektra went back to his apartment, as they began to look for the whereabouts of Yoshioka. Then, Nelson called him from the police department. He told him that Mahoney has been forced to give men information about Daredevil. He hung up and left.

Mahoney tells Daredevil about the hostages

Murdock met up with Mahoney near the fire escape at the precinct, as he was quick to joke that, at this point, he can only trust the vigilante. He informed him that he was forced to give mysterious people the files on Daredevil's actions or they would kill his mother. Mahoney told him that the files had the names of all the people he has saved, Murdock put the pieces together and left for Page's apartment, only to find it completely empty.

Elektra convinces Daredevil to block out all the other noises

Daredevil was on the rooftop, trying really hard to hear the location of the Hand's hostages, but becomes incredibly frustrated. Daredevil informs Elektra that he unable to listen through all the other noises going on. Elektra suggested blocking all other noises and to listen for the hostages. Murdock does just that and, finally, hears the bus that is transporting them.

Murdock and Elektra finally arrives at the Hand's hideout. They are about to enter, but Elektra thought it was best to stay behind, thinking it a trap and stating that it would be best that the Hand did not retrieve the Black Sky, especially if it meant complete destruction to thousands, compared to a few. With that, Daredevil descends to the hideout.

Daredevil saves the hostages from the Hand

Before the Hand could cut off Barrett's ankle, Daredevil crashes inside and knocks them out. He frees all the hostages and asks Page if she is all right. After Page answered, he freed her.

Daredevil is saved by Elektra

Then, More Hand ninjas appeared and began to fight him. As one was about to attack, Elektra stabs the ninja in the back, claiming she got bored waiting for him. They found out that the only way out was on the roof, as they head upstairs. They stopped near a door, where Murdock claimed that he could sense an army of Hand ninjas; they both took a moment, acknowledging that this might be their last fight.

Murdock and Elektra imagine a life together

Elektra states that she is ready to meet her fate, but Murdock removed his helmet, stating if they get out alive, he wants to leave New York with her. She states that he belongs in New York, but he responds by saying she made him feel more alive than the city.

Elektra dies in Murdock's arms

Daredevil and Elektra finally make it to the top and battle Hand ninjas. A lot of the Ninjas were easily defeated, but Yoshioka was much more a superior fighter, able to knock Murdock's helmet off. Yoshioka was about to stab Murdock, but Elektra attacked him, which caused Yoshioka to stabs her by accident. She gave her final farewell to Murdock and died in his arms, claiming that this was not the end.

Yoshioka was enraged that he lost the Black Sky and he ordered his men to finish him off. Murdock, filled with anger, fights then, but finds out that the ninjas were being shot down. He senses the Punisher, who was sniping the Ninjas down for him.

Daredevil flings Yoshioka off the roof

Murdock walked away, letting the Punisher finish off the rest of the ninjas, and battles Yoshioka. After a bit of a struggle, he used his new billy club to fling him off the roof and win the battle. The Punisher looked at Daredevil and said "see you around, red," then left. Now alone, Daredevil could only walk over to Elektra's lifeless body, take her hand and mourn her demise.[28]

Truth Revealed

Confession to Karen Page

With the threat of the Hand seemingly dealt with for the time being, Murdock and Stick visited Elektra's grave. Filled with too much grief, Murdock could not find any words to say, so Stick wondered if Murdock thought it worth it to love her, to which Murdock said that even though Stick opposed it, it was. Stick smiled and called Murdock the toughest person he knew, then they left, with Stick returning to the Chaste while Murdock remained in New York City to continue his own fight.

Making his mind up about what was best for the people around him, Murdock asked Karen Page to meet him at the old Nelson and Murdock Law Office, which she reluctantly agreed to. As Murdock walked down the streets of New York and entered the building, he found Page waiting there for him. Murdock nervously told her that he had something to show her, though Page told him that she did not want whatever it was. Murdock however insisted and eventually pulled out his Daredevil helmet. Page looked at the new revelation in shock and Murdock revealed that he is Daredevil.[28]

Return to Normalcy

"You know, as complicated as I feel about all this stuff, I just I feel like you should know. The NYPD is prevailing. I report on it every day, and the crime rate's down. I really think that Daredevil may have made the city a safer place.""He might have. But right now, the city's better off without him."

Mourning Elektra and blaming himself for her death, Murdock quit being Daredevil and decided to refocus his efforts of helping people through the Justice system as a lawyer. Months after his conflict against the Hand, Murdock worked on a case for Aaron James a boy paralyzed by the the chemicals used in a companies subway. Murdock won the case and gained the family a 11 million dollars settlement. Before going to meet the press, Murdock had a talk with James about how the money would help his mom and family it would not help him regain what he already lost and told Aaron that he would gain strength from his recovery. Murdock was soon greeted by Karen Page who had come to interview him as well as ask him out for lunch.

Getting lunch the two talked about Page's job as a reporter and Murdock's work. Page asked Murdock if he regretted telling her about his Daredevil Suit, to which Murdock declined and stated that he couldn't lie to her anymore. She asked him if he missed being Daredevil which he also said no to and claimed that while he did not regret becoming Daredevil in the first place he regretted the relationships it caused him particularly his relationship with her with Page and Foggy Nelson, Page however reassured him that it did not drive her away and that they just needed to figure themselves out first before deciding on how to progress with their relationship. Page then told him that despite the complications Daredevil might have have made New York City safer while Murdock agreed he claimed that at this moment the city was better off without him.

Later, Murdock went for a confession. He confessed to Father Lantom that he lied to someone he cared about. Murdock admitted that he missed the other life that he left behind. Lantom reasoned that his acknowledgement of the lie can lead him to the truth and that his lie might be a sign of Murdock's indecision. Lantom further asked if he felt guilty due to his longing for his other life or because of Elektra's death. Murdock admitted that he greatly missed her and loved her, even though she made him do things that he didn't want to. Lantom told him that his state of feeling was natural. He told Murdock that he must move on to find peace within him.[29]

Tremor and Chaos

Murdock returned home after a day of work. He went to grab a beer when he sensed an approaching wave of chaos in the city. Not long after, an earthquake began shaking over the entire city. Murdock braced himself in his apartment and waited for the tremor to pass. Once it passed, Murdock listened and heard all of the suffering and chaos that the earthquake had caused over the city. Unable to ignore it, Murdock went out of his apartment to see if he can help.[29]

Murdock overlooks the city from the rooftop.

On the rooftop, Murdock began listening to the city. Eventually he heard a group of youths who went to steal from a store. They got discovered by the shop owner who then pulled a gun. Murdock went to their rescue. Jumping from rooftops to rooftops, he made his way to where they were. He managed to reach them in time to witness the shop owner begin shooting at them. Murdock responded quickly and dispatched the shop owner. When his armed assistant arrived, Murdock pleaded him to let the youth go. When the assistant began firing at him, Murdock dispatched and disarmed him as well. Murdock quickly left the area.

Murdock to the rescue

He returned home in the morning. Murdock treating the bruises on his hand that he received from the fight that he had. Murdock felt conflicted about his vigilante act and briefly contemplated to put on the suit once again before he was called by Foggy Nelson.

Murdock met to have a drink with his old friend at Josie's Bar. They talked about their work. Nelson congratulated Murdock on winning the case and asked if he intended to remain pro bono, to which Murdock replied that he intended too. Nelson was doing well working in his new firm and having a relationship with Marci Stahl. Their conversation soon turned to Murdock's vigilantism, Nelson had noticed the bruises on his hands. Nelson offered files of cases that could keep Murdock busy from doing his vigilantism again. Murdock accepted the files and thanked his friend.[30]

Representing Jessica Jones

Murdock was contacted by Foggy Nelson to be an attorney for Jessica Jones. He arrived in time to stop Misty Knight's interrogation. Once Knight left the room, Murdock went to have a talk with Jones. She proved to be uncooperative and blunt with her remarks much to his surprise. Jones asked for another lawyer and Murdock replied that she didn't actually need one as the New York City Police Department did not have anything to charge her with. When Murdock attempted to ask about the case she was trying to solve, Jones refused to answer. Once Jones left the room, she called her friend Malcolm Ducasse and asked him about what he told the authority about that happened last night, a conversation that Murdock listened in on.

He began following Jones to learn about what she knew. During a following in the streets, he lost track of her only to be followed by Jones in turn. Realizing that he was being followed, Murdock headed to an alley and promptly made his escape, leaping up the side of the building and climbing to the roof, believing that he had not been seen doing so.[31]

Eventually Murdock managed to resume following Jones. He found her entering Midland Circle. Having been there months ago during its construction with Elektra and its connection to the Hand, Murdock quickly took Jones aside in the building and warned her about the danger of her case. When Jones revealed that she had witnessed him escaping from the alley and taken pictures, Murdock promptly smashed the camera.

Before they could continue, Murdock heard gunshots happening in the building. Murdock took Jones' scarf and used it as a makeshift mask as he made his way upstairs. He reached the floor and was soon joined by Jones who used the elevator.

Soon after, Luke Cage smashed through a nearby wall. He was followed closely behind by Danny Rand. Rand advised that they all escape. Before they could, Murdock warned them that someone was coming. When the enforcer arrived, more Hand fighters appeared and attacked them.The Defenders began fighting against their enemy.

The Hand enforcer personally fought against Murdock. During the fight, Murdock was pushed to another room, where he continued his fight. Eventually he was forced to the floor by his adversary. Then he heard her breath and to his shock, Murdock realized that it was Elektra. Before she could kill him, Rand came to Murdock's rescue and smashed Elektra away with his Iron Fist.

Defenders Unite

Escaping to the Royal Dragon restaurant Murdock and the others took the time to regroup and find out information on their shared enemy. Not wanting to have anything to do with the group Murdock attempted to leave when Cage stopped him and told him he was now as much a part of this situation as the rest of them and demanded he take off the mask and reveal himself. Murdock demanded that Cage take his hand off his shoulder before things got physical Jessica interrupted and asked to speak with him alone. Jones then revealed that she knew Murdock was the masked vigilante Daredevil and that sooner or later Cage and Rand would figure out his identity. When Murdock asked what she wanted from him Jones told him she didn't want anything and just wanted to crack her case and summarized by how the way Murdock sprung Into action at Midland Circe he wanted the same thing. Murdock contemplated, then he took off Jones' scarf and revealed his identity to the others.

Murdock chatting and talking with the others

The Defenders shared information with one another about the Hand. Murdock remain adamant that they couldn't fight their enemy. They were soon greeted by the arrival of his old master, Stick. Murdock was hostile when his old master arrived and warned his allies that they shouldn't trust him. Stick revealed that he was now the last member of the Chaste and the only one who could stop the Hand were the four of them. Stick aggravated Jones and made her leave. Murdock chose to remain to listen to what Stick had to say.

Once Stick finished his tale, the Defenders began preparing themselves for the Hand's arrival. Murdock talked to his old mentor about Elektra's resurrection. Stick warned him that Elektra was no longer the woman he knew. She was only Black Sky now. Eventually the Defenders were interrupted by the arrival of Alexandra Reid. She tried to convince Rand to join her only to be refused. Reid summoned Elektra. Before they could fight, she was interrupted by the return of Jones who smashed a car through the restaurant and hit Elektra. Jones rejoined the Defenders and they all prepared themselves to fight.[32]

Murdock and the Defenders fought against Elektra. They were soon met with the arrival of the Hand reinforcement led by Murakami, Madame Gao and Sowande. During the fight, Murdock and Rand personally fought against Murakami and defeated him. When more reinforcement arrived to surround them, Murdock broke from the group to personally fight against Elektra. He tried to make his old lover return to her senses and only managed to make her hesitate when he spoke her name. Before anything happen, they were interrupted by Murakami and Elektra escaped after she punched the man aside.

Return of Daredevil

The Defenders brought their captive Sowande to an abandoned warehouse where they began interrogating him. They didn't get any information out of him but when he began threatening their loved ones, the Defenders left Stick to guard him while they went out to bring their friends to safety. Murdock managed to find Karen Page and Foggy Nelson and convinced them to head to the 29th Precinct Police Station for protection.

Murdock briefly returned to the warehouse to check up on Stick before he headed home to put on his Daredevil Suit again. Donning his suit once again, Daredevil managed to reach and save Jessica Jones and her friend Trish Walker from the assault of Murakami. Working together with Jones, they defeated their opponent. Once they made sure that Walker was safe, both Daredevil and Jones headed back to their hideout to continue interrogating Sowande. Despite now wearing his suit, he wasn't able to intimidate the man. In his anger, Daredevil caused Sowande to go unconscious.

Murdock was forced to tell the truth of Elektra to the rest of the team. During the argument with Luke Cage, Sowande woke up and held Danny Rand hostage at knife point. Sowande revealed that now that they had the Iron Fist, they could complete their goal. Stick killed him before he could escape with Rand.[33]

This revelation splintered the team. Eventually they agreed that they should keep Rand away, much to his protest. This disagreement led to a fight between Murdock and Rand. The fight ended when Jones knocked him out. The group tied Rand to a chair. The Defenders decided that they needed to find their next lead on the Hand. Murdock went with Jones back to her client, the Raymonds, to look for information while Cage and Stick guarded Rand.

They reached the Raymonds' residence and they talked to Lexi Raymond. Through their talk, they learned that John Raymond often paced around the house after he built Midland Circle. This led Murdock to discover that John had hidden plans for the Midland Circle in the piano. They learned about the massive cave beneath Midland Circle and that John intended to level the building to collapse the cave. Murdock and Jones headed back to their hideout.

As they neared the hideout, Murdock sensed that something was wrong. Both Jones and Murdock hastily ran back inside and they found Elektra fighting against Stick and both Rand and Cage were unconscious. Despite Murdock's attempts, Elektra killed Stick and promptly defeated him.[34]

Murdock woke up to find himself at the precinct. Nelson arrived and explained the situation to his friend. The cops found them with two corpses and they intended to ask them questions about what happened. Murdock, Cage and Jones were taken to be questioned by the authorities. Knowing that time was running out and that answering question would simply mean that they are further staled, Murdock managed to convince Strieber to have a private talk with Cage and Jones.

Once away, Murdock agreed with the team that they needed to get out and get to Midland Circle to end the Hand. Nelson assisted Murdock by finding his suit for him. The Defenders escaped from the precinct and began making their way back to Midland Circle using the train.

They arrived to the building and Murdock donned his suit. He led them to the parking lot where Murakami, Gao and Bakuto were waiting for them. The Defenders battled against the three Hand leaders. They were assisted by Rand's girlfriend, Colleen Wing. They were soon joined by Misty Knight and Claire Temple. Knight stayed behind to stall the approaching authority while Daredevil and his allies entered the building. Once inside, Wing revealed that she brought Raymond's C4 explosives. Daredevil agreed to the plan that they should use the explosives to level the building and end the threat that the Hand posed to their lives.[35]

While Temple and Wing worked on setting the explosives, the Defenders headed down to the cave to rescue Rand. Once down to the cave, they managed to rescue Rand and the reunited Defenders fought against the Hand now led by Elektra who had usurped Reid. They managed to defeat the Hand and only Elektra was left to fight them. During the battle, Daredevil heard that the charges were set. He urged his team to escape from the caves and decided to stay behind to try and convince Elektra to surrender. Before they left, Daredevil took Rand aside and quietly asked him to protect New York.

Now alone in the cave with Elektra, Murdock took off his helmet and began fighting defensively in an attempt to convince his former lover to stop and leave with him. Murdock fought a difficult struggle to convince Elektra. He finally succeeded just as the cave began crumbling. Elektra apologized for causing him so much pain and they shared a kiss as they are engulfed by the cave-in.[36]

Waking Up in a Nunnery

Believed dead by his loved ones and allies, Karen Page and Foggy Nelson mourned his death as the Defenders disbanded and returned back to their lives while Danny Rand decided to honor Murdock's wish and become a vigilante to protect New York City at night. It turned out that Murdock managed to survive the cave-in and somehow managed to be brought to a chapel to be nursed by nuns. Spending days unconscious due to his wounds, eventually Murdock woke up and heard the nuns, who were watching over him say: "Get Maggie. Tell her he’s awake."[36]

Personality

"We don't live in a world that's fair. We live in this one. And I'm doing everything I can to make it a better place."

Matt Murdock, for lack of a better term, is complicated. As a child, he felt immense guilt and loss: blaming himself for the death of his father as well as feeling lost after losing his sight. He was both heroic and selfless even as a child, as was shown best when he saved an elderly man from being hit by a truck, at the cost of his own vision. Murdock has "daddy issues" with both his actual father Jack Murdock and his subsequent father figure Stick, having lost both either to death or from being abandoned. Stick tried to raise him to be coldblooded but suddenly abandoned him when Matt started expressing filial affection; this abandonment and rejection has left Murdock with difficulty forging real emotional connections, despite his determination to not let Stick define him.

Murdock has a high desire for justice and doing the right thing. He convinced his friend Foggy Nelson to quit their internship at Landman and Zack to start their own firm which would work for the common man. During the start of their firm, he aimed to help only innocent people. Unable to allow injustice, he got frustrated when the police or judicial system failed to help. He decided to work as a vigilante to save people and help where the justice system could not. During this, he demonstrated extreme selflessness as he kept risking his life for others, even after he barely made it out of dangerous situations and ended up badly wounded multiple times.

While fighting crime, he can be very brutal and heavily injures criminals in such manner as breaking their bones. He has hospitalized multiple criminals in this regard, with the first man he beat up having to eat through a straw for a month. However, he has avoided intentionally killing anyone so far and limits himself to hand to hand combat and sticks so as to not inflict lethal injuries, even if this results in himself getting injured during fights. When the Steel Serpent warehouse started burning, he used a gun to try and scare everyone into leaving and ordered a downed guard to evacuate them, showing great concern for even his enemies, as both the guards and the workers there had attacked him. He usually attempts to avoid killing people, and has yet to kill anyone so far, as he believes he's on thin ice as it is and that doing so will make him no better than the people he's fighting. His refusal to kill earns him heavy criticism from Frank Castle, who kills criminals without hesitation or remorse and considers Matt a coward who can't finish the job.

Despite his reluctance to kill, Matt has, on occasion, when sufficiently infuriated or when the situation is dire, thrown away his concern for the well-being of his opponents, such as when he used a kitchen knife when Semyon came for him, tortured him with it and even threw him off of a rooftop, though he knew he would live because of the dumpster positioned under where Semyon fell. The harming or killing of innocent people, such as Elena Cardenas, makes him even more willing to kill, as he told Elena's killer that he would not stop beating him if he did not go to the police.

Later on, his fight with Nobu Yoshioka resulted in the latter's accidental immolation and apparent death, though he was angry when he learned that Wilson Fisk actually wanted Nobu to die and did not lift a finger to save him when he had the chance. When the resurrected Yoshioka ended up killing Elektra, his resulting ferocity made him able to easily beat Yoshioka and knock him off a building with a wire from his Billy Club, seemingly not caring if Nobu came back to life or not. He has also threatened to kill Wilson Fisk, and has acknowledged that he meant it at the time, while he also did slash Fisk with one of Yoshioka's discarded blades, only to find that his suit was concealing body armor. So far he has been lucky that during these lapses in his sense of morality he has failed to follow through on his intent, however even his temporary willingness to kill still feeds his sense of guilt when he reflects on it.

His most complex relationship is arguably is the one with Elektra. When Elektra first reentered his life, Matt was not best pleased to see her, as the two had parted on less than favorable terms. Before long, he began to consider her a nuisance, due to her constantly involving him in her battles with the Hand, when he already had his hands full dealing with the Frank Castle case. At one point, he had to tell her that his life didn't stop every time she called him. Overtime, however, he got more and more involved in her struggle, and his relationships with Karen and Foggy became more distant as a result. Eventually, he came to realize that he actually loves Elektra and that she makes him more alive than anything else. Eventually these feelings would lead Matt to re-enter the collapsing Midland Circle caves in a attempt to rescue her, but ultimately was unable to do so and was nearly killed as a result of being crushed under the rubble.

As a Catholic, Murdock experiences a lot of guilt and soul-searching over his actions when he allows his anger and contempt for violent criminals to cause him to enjoy beating them bloody, and he frequently wonders whether he is doing the right thing in the eyes of God or whether he is allowing evil into his heart. When he feels this way, he approaches his local priest, Father Lantom, for spiritual guidance and advice, however, he asks his questions in a roundabout way to conceal his identity as Daredevil, though Lantom has managed to figure out the truth. Either way, Lantom is bound by the seal of confession not to divulge what they discuss. After Murdock met his mentor Stick again, he started to doubt his ways and even considered killing Wilson Fisk as he doubted he could stop him any other way. This created an internal struggle as his best friend and others did not want him to act as a vigilante. In the final confrontation against Fisk, he kept true to his vow and ultimately did not kill Fisk.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Enhanced Senses: Despite being blinded as a child, Murdock's remaining four senses, besides sight, are enhanced to a superhuman level, resulting in them becoming radar/sonar-like. He claims to constantly feel numerous things, including balance, direction, minuscule changes in air density, vibrations, and blankets of temperature variations, that are usually imperceptible to human beings. That, combined with his acute hearing and olfactory senses, allows Murdock to evaluate his surroundings in what he describes as an "Impressionistic painting" of the world around him, which, according to him, looks like "the world on fire". His superhumanly enhanced senses grants him tremendous awareness of his surroundings on a wide range, this makes him extremely alert to danger.

Enhanced Hearing: Like a bat, Murdock's hearing is extremely acute, he can clearly hear conversations, heartbeats and even breaths from several meters. He was able to hear and memorize the sound of James Wesley's watch ticking, and hear Claire's bones shifting as she breathed. Murdock can focus on what he hears; in a crowded courtroom with the judge speaking, Murdock heard a juror's heartbeat accelerate when James Wesley entered the room. Hearing the changes in people's heartbeats allows Murdock to predict how they feel and what actions they'll take, such as attack or run. He was also able to memorize the pattern of Wesley's watch so he could follow the latter. When forced to improvise while fighting extremely stealthy Hand ninjas, Murdock was able to effectively keep track of their movements by listening to their breaths and the sound of their swords cutting through the air.

Echolocation: Matt possesses an exceptionally advanced form of human echolocation. He is able to detect objects in his environment by sensing echoes from those objects, by actively creating and listening for sounds - for example tapping his cane, stomping of his enemies' feet, raindrops, ticking from a watch, tumbling of a safe's locks, rattling chains or even a person's heartbeat. He can interpret the sound waves reflected by nearby objects, accurately identifying their location and size.

Lie Detection: Murdock's hearing is so acute, that he can tell whether people are lying or not, based on the rate of their heartbeats.

Enhanced Smell: His incredible olfactory senses which is even sharper than a dog allow him to detect the scent of stale cigarettes and cheap cologne three floors above him and through several walls. When he was a boy, his sense was already so acute, he could smell that an old man sitting at a bench across from him had cancer. By smelling an old cigarette, Murdock could tell that whoever smoked it previously had rotten teeth. He was even able to smell that Foggy Nelson had onions in his lunch, the current time, but two days ago.

Enhanced Taste: Murdock was able to tell that Claire Temple had ripped open some of the stitches on her back, due to tasting copper in the air from the blood of her open wound. Stick taught him how to train this sense, which allowed him to pick out every individual ingredient of the ice cream he was eating, including that the milk used came from three different dairy farms, and that the man who served him used a certain type of soil in his garden.

Enhanced Touch: Murdock can feel the presence of those around him through vibrations, air currents and body temperatures. He can dodge attacks and projectiles by feeling them cut through the air, creating ripples of currents only detectable by him. He locates enemies through walls and from different floors by feeling the vibrations they make from moving, such as their footsteps.

Enhanced Thermoreception: Matt can sense changes in heat in the environment. Murdock could even feel the heat generated from the blood spilling from the gunshot wound on Vladimir Ranskahov; to one-half of a degree, he was able to distinguish the difference in temperature.

Electroreception: Matt is able to detect electric fields, similar to a shark. When out on a mission with Elektra, Matt was able to find a hidden room by feeling an electrical current coming from behind the wall. He could hear the electricity buzzing inside the wall and felt a stop in the current were the mechanism for unlocking the secret room was.

Enhanced Balance: Murdock's sense of balance is superhuman, giving him perfect equilibrium, coordination, dexterity, reflexes and agility, resulting in high levels of acrobatic and gymnastic ability. His dexterity and reflexes were enhanced even before his training with Stick, as he could effortlessly catch keys thrown to him while hearing the sound they made. He can instinctively react to oncoming blows nearly effortlessly with the use of his other senses, such as avoiding attacks with a sharp weapon at close quarters by hearing the noise of its approach.

Abilities

Peak Physical Condition: Due to years of intense martial arts training since childhood, Matt is exceptionally strong and fit. His robust physiology and mind are at the peak human condition of a man of his age, weight, and height. He's been able to overpower the criminals of Hell's Kitchen with relative ease and has defeated foes with greater strength. In adulthood, Matt trains rigorously to keep himself at top physical condition as it is vital to his vigilante career. At times, his attacks were strong enough knock opponents off the ground a few feet, which he did while battling the Dogs of Hell (kicking a man on a staircase into the air), as well as the Hand (flipping over a man and throwing him several feet into a pile of crates).

Master Martial Artist: Despite being blind, Murdock was rigorously trained in martial arts by Stick at a young age, and excelled in it. He continued training himself, despite Stick giving up on him, becoming an exceptionally fit man who is extremely skilled in martial arts. Murdock eventually used his skills to fight crime as the vigilante "Daredevil". Daredevil's fighting style incorporates Boxing, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Judo, Aikido, Capoeira, Taekwondo, Escrima, Ninjutsu, and Pro-Wrestling.[37] Hence, Daredevil could take down the criminals of Hell's Kitchen with ease, defeating professional hitman Rance, highly skilled assassin John Healy, single-handedly taking down eight Russian gangsters at once (despite having not yet full recovered from his wounds at the time), and was even able to take down multiple cops while handcuffed. His ex-girlfriend Elektra claimed that Murdock was one of the best fighters that she knew. By the time he met Stick again, Murdock rivaled his former mentor in skill, managing to keep up with him in an intense one-on-one duel and ultimately overpowering him, earning Stick's praise. Though with some difficulty, Murdock was also ultimately able to overpower Kingpin, a man of immense brute strength, and even flip him through the air during their fight. However, Daredevil would still have problems facing opponents with more combat skill and experience, such as the Hand leader Nobu Yoshioka, though even the latter acknowledged Daredevil as a worthy opponent. Despite his beating at Nobu's hands, he still managed to fight him on near equal grounds and ended the fight by knocking him several feet and accidentally igniting the fuel at his feet, which immolated Nobu. A year later, Daredevil's combat skills seem to have improved, as he was now able to hold his own against the fierce and extremely dangerous Punisher (even gaining the upper hand against him a few times), to single-handedly take down multiple highly skilled Hand ninjas, to last longer than Elektra against a resurrected Nobu Yoshioka in their final duel, and even to finally defeat the extremely skilled Hand leader himself, albeit only with considerable effort and initial failure. His skill also allowed him to fight evenly against Danny Rand, a master martial artist in his own right. Daredevil was also able to fight both Bakuto and Murakami simultaneously and had the upper hand in the majority of the fight.

Staff Mastery: Thanks to his early training with Stick, Murdock is highly skilled in the use of staves and similar melee weapons. The billy club that Melvin Potter created for him maximizes this skill by being able to easily change between different combinations of weapons.

"Besides, you leaping around the city like a Russian gymnast didn't exactly help."

Master Acrobat: Having top notch agility, dexterity and reflexes, Murdock is capable of incorporating gymnastics and acrobatics into his fighting style as he battles opponents, and could already do several agile flips as a child. He is highly skilled with parkour and free-running and able to quickly move over rooftops and climb buildings, managing to keep up with a car this way. Even when handcuffed, Daredevil performed an agile back flip, bringing his hands back in front of his torso. He also utilized his superior agility to successfully gain the upper hand against Stick. However, Daredevil is notably not quite as agile as Nobu Yoshioka, though a year after their first encounter, his agility seems to have improved, with Daredevil's now rivaling that of the resurrected Yoshioka. His agility also allowed him to gain the upper hand on Punisher during their fight. He was even able to use his great agility to dodge bullets even at close range.

Expert Marksman: Because of his enhanced senses, Murdock has an increased awareness of where objects are, allowing him exceptional marksmanship with both firearms and throwing weapons, with him able to quickly knock guns out of the Punisher's grasp with a hurled Billy club. Also, he was able to drop a fire extinguisher on Semyon's head several floors down, timing it perfectly and knowing when Semyon would be off the stairs and directly below it.

Bilingualism: Murdock speaks fluent English and Spanish, having studied the latter at college. However, he cannot speak or understand Russian or Japanese.

Master Lawyer: Murdock is a persuasive and trained lawyer, having graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University. Foggy Nelson claimed that had Murdock been able to put more effort into the case of Frank Castle, that they might have won it. When threatening Wilson Fisk, Murdock expressed confidence in his ability to use "every legal loophole and footnote" to keep Fisk and Vanessa Marianna from ever being able to reunite, claiming to have the ability to break him without breaking any law.

Skilled Leader: Despite having no formal training in leadership, Murdock was recognized as the leader of the Defenders (possibly due to being the more experienced vigilante) by Stick, Jessica Jones and eventually Luke Cage and Danny Rand. He successfully led the initial assault on Midland Circle, although it resulted in its destruction and his own and Elektra's apparent death due to not being able to find a more optimal solution.

Equipment

Vigilante Suit: Murdock bought a black suit with red stitching online to wear in his vigilante activities. He also wore a black mask over his head, eyes and nose, leaving only his mouth uncovered. This suit also had padding which he wore underneath the suit, so that the beatings would not hurt as much, but they did not stop him from being seriously injured. He would ultimately discard this suit in favor of a much more durable armored one.

Wooden Sticks: At a young age, Murdock was trained to be an expert stick fighter by Stick, but he stopped using the weapons after Stick left, preferring to fight unarmed. He began using them again at Stick's insistence when his mentor returned to New York City. However, he discarded them after Melvin Potter made him a more advanced Billy Club.

Armored Suit: In their first fight, after being severely injured by Nobu Yoshioka, Murdock noticed Wilson Fisk's impermeable armored suit and decided to take Claire Temple's advice to get some body armor of his own. He located Melvin Potter, who made Fisk's suit, and persuaded him to make a red and black suit with a facemask and helmet resembling the Christian Devil, leading to his new name. This suit is highly durable, allowing him to be nearly unfazed by an opponent's attacks and recover more quickly from being hit, such as being hit in the head with a metal pipe or slammed into a wall by Fisk. It notably allowed Daredevil to survive unscathed from battling a resurrected Yoshioka with the same shoge hook that badly wounded him when he wore his more simple vigilante suit. After his first protective helmet got cracked by a close-range bullet from the Punisher, Daredevil had Potter make him a new, more durable one. The suit's durability is fully displayed at the end of The Defenders when it is revealed that Matt actually survived the cave in, presumably due to the suits's armor

Billy Club: When Murdock asked Melvin Potter to create an armored suit for him, Potter also created a special Billy Club. It can be used as a short staff, or two individual sticks joined by a high tensile wire for grappling. It can also be split into two individual short sticks for close quarters combat. It is kept in a holster on the suit's left thigh.

Trivia

In the comics, Daredevil has a long and complicated relationship with Black Widow.

The black costume Matt Murdock wears takes inspiration from Frank Miller and John Romita Jr.'s 1993 limited series Daredevil: The Man Without Fear; said series serves as a slight retelling of Daredevil's origins, notably the inclusion of Stick.

Murdock is at least 30 years old, as he was blinded when he was 9 years old and twenty years had passed since Stick left him until he met him again in New York City, meaning that he is older than 29.

In the comics, the origin of Daredevil's codename is based on what the other kids used to call Matt when he was younger.

The substance which blinds Matt is never revealed, but the barrels reveal it to be “TYP A” with the serial number “0464XXXX” as in April 1964 when Daredevil #1 was first published.

Matt Murdock seems to have a strong moral code, as he refused to go along with The Punishers plan that involved killing their enemies, and also because whenever Punisher tried to shoot or kill one of their enemies, Matt would stop him.

Behind the Scenes

The idea of casting Charlie Cox as Daredevil came from Marvel's Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada in 2012, before Marvel Studios gained the rights to the character from 20th Century Fox.[39] Cox wanted to be involved with the series after reading the first two scripts for the series, telling his agent "These are two of the best TV scripts I've read".[40]

Season One showrunner Steven S. DeKnight explained that Murdock is "not super strong. He's not invulnerable... he just has senses that are better than a normal human's." On the character's "grey" morals, he noted, "He's a lawyer by day, and he's taken this oath. But every night he breaks that oath, and goes out and does very violent things."[41]

On portraying the character, Cox said, "There are so many aspects. There’s the blindness and physicality. Making a show is about human emotion, conflict and turmoil. When meeting a man who's a lawyer by day and believes in law and justice and then a man by night is someone who takes the law into his own hands. He deals with battles dealing with that concept."[42]

The character's Catholicism plays a large role in the series, with DeKnight calling him "one of the most, if not the most, religious characters in the Marvel Universe".[43]

Cox, who was raised Catholic, found that helpful, saying, "You grow up steeped in that. If you’re in church, standing in front of the altar, you sort of automatically know how to respond. It all kicks in – you genuflect, you sit in the pew. I didn’t have to pretend any of that.”[44]

Charlie Cox wore contacts while filming the first season of Daredevil to blind himself. "The problem with that was that after every take, someone from the crew had to come and get me and lead me away and kind of sit me down," he revealed. "After the second day, I was like this is going to get really old, really quick."[45]

Cox worked with blind consultant Joe Strechay,[46] and was conscious of what his eyes were doing at all times, to ensure they would not look at or react to something unlike a blind person.[47]

On how the name Daredevil is revealed in the series, DeKnight explained that "We talked about, do we do one of the versions in the comics where when he was a kid people used to taunt him with the name Daredevil, but that didn’t quite feel like our world. At one point we were going to have Ben Urich (Vondie Curtis-Hall) give him the name, but the timing wasn’t right from where he’s in his black outfit and then gets his suit, which is after Ben’s untimely demise. There was something technically tricky of somebody actually saying the words, “Hey you’re some kind of Daredevil.” The solution was to play that off-screen and then hit it in the paper that he’s been given this name Daredevil."[48]

Cox later explained that, unlike the Marvel comic book character, his version of Daredevil would not be a "man without fear", saying "Someone who does not have fear – literally does not experience fear – is not that interesting. The way I like to think about it is that he is a man with fear, but he on a daily basis decides to confront that fear and to overcome it. So the title of 'the man without fear' is almost a title that the public in his world gives him just because of what he does. But inside himself, he's very afraid at times. And he finds a way to confront those fears and punch through it."

With the introduction of Elektra in Season Two, Jeph Loeb talked about how Élodie Yung's portrayal of the character, with which "you never quite know if Elektra’s telling you the truth", would affect Murdock, saying, "Matt, who has this sort of ability to be a human lie detector, because he’s emotionally attached to her, it skews his ability to be able to know whether or not she’s telling the truth or he’s being manipulated, or is she actually not manipulating him? That kind of interaction, and I think the natural emotion that was going on between Charlie and Élodie that we captured on film, added a great deal of spark to it."[49]